Reborn From the Cosmos

There are dozens of stories about the Harvest Hero aside from the false dragon he’s slain. Quite a few have nothing to do with his deeds, but details a hero’s reception. How he never has to pay for drinks. How women fall over themselves just to meet his gaze, though I imagine not so much these days.

There’s a story about the day he left Harvest to found the Hall. The bards say that the people of the capital lined the streets from the palace, where he always stayed at the behest of the king, to the gates. Single women wept with regret as they lined the road with flowers. Mothers passed over baskets of food and thick blankets as if seeing their own blood off. Men roared to mask their envy. Children stared up at him with adoring eyes. Or so the story goes.

I don’t get anything like that. New Quest is quiet as our small contingent rolls through the streets; the most appreciation I get is quiet nod from the guards working the gates. The few people on the streets who bother to look up and recognize my crest hardly react, which I guess is better than spitting on the street as I pass.

Just before we are about to slip beyond the city, the carriage comes to a stop. I sigh as the door opens, eyeing the smiling Geneva. “What happened?”

“Nothing, my summoner. There is simply someone ahead of us.”

My eyes narrow as I take in her expression. “And you felt the need to tell me because…”

“Because she wishes to speak with you.”

There it is. I gently lift Alana from my shoulder and step down beside my succubus. My eyes go forward, making sure the estrazi are still covered before finding the reason for the delay.

The carriage is large but understated, with no distinct markers anywhere. Perfectly forgettable, which I imagine is the point given the woman standing beside. Her golden eyes have been watching me from the beginning. Saints, knowing her, they may have been watching me all morning, peering through walls.

“Good morning, Lou,” Butterfly greets. Her smile is full of tension. She’s not happy to see me, which begs the question of what she’s doing here in the first place. “Great day for it.”

“Butterfly.” Thought I’d never get used to calling her that, but since she hasn’t seen fit to give me a better one… “What a coincidence. Leaving the city?”

“Sure am. The kingdom never sleeps and our duties here are done.”

“Hm. And what exactly was your duty here?”

“Don’t you remember the scroll that gave you control over your lovely little city?”

“I wouldn’t call it little. And that can’t be it.”

“Sometimes my work is as simple as playing messenger.” She sighs. “I’m being honest, okay? I was sent here to evaluate the city.”

“You and your partner. Who isn’t here.”

“He’s remaining in the Sanctuary. The situation remains voilatile.”

I frown; that isn’t the impression Shake gave. “What do you mean?”

“It’s not procedure to casually discuss national issues in the street.”

“If you’re talking about the break in the Temple I know about that.”

“Of course you do. Well, that’s not the whole—”

“Do you also mean the thing with Dunwayne?”

Her hand twitches; I wonder what reflex she’s burying. “…fine. For those reasons and more, the Hall needs to be observed. We always dreaded what would happen when Dunwayne stepped down and now it’s happening in the worst possible—”

Her head jerks, like a dog sprayed with water. Ah. Did she share too much?

“Wasn’t his duty to watch you?”

“We go where we’re needed.” The dismissal can’t hide her smugness. Guess she got rid of him.

“I’m guessing you’re needed wherever I’m headed?”

“You make it sound uncouth. We just happen to be headed in the same direction.”

“And if I say I’m headed toward the coast?”

“Then we’d continue onto the capital. Everything doesn’t revolve around you, Lady Tome.”

“Really?”

“…fine. You’re important. I’m sure if my superiors understood how important, I’d spend my life peeking in your windows but I don’t know how to tell them without them doing something stupid. But in this one case, it really is a coincidence. We waited in hopes of traveling together but that’s it.”

I scrutinize her, looking for any deception; my senses tell me she’s stressed and not attempting to deceive me.

“I hope your mounts can keep up.” I don’t see a problem with the woman tagging along. She’s the same as Leena. Butterfly’s eyes allow her to see me, the true me, to some extent. She fears me, deeply and she’s made that fear a part of herself. She’s one of the last people in the world I expect to act against me, because she can clearly imagine the consequences.

“And don’t expect to share a camp.”

“Even if it’s just me?”

I scoff as I turn, Geneva passing me to retake her place on the driver’s bench. Green arms grab my waist as I step into the carriage; Kierra pulls me into her lap as Alana closes the door. Talia takes Bell with her as she moves to the opposite side of the bench, turning her feet to rest them in Alana’s lap.

After a short pause, the carriage is moving again. I reach over Kierra’s shoulder to open the shutters; I want to watch the moment we leave the city. It’s utterly pedestrian, the shadow of the gate obscuring the clear sky for a moment. Then we’re on the road, picking up speed with every moment.

Sigh.

“You are upset,” Kierra whispers in my ear as she plays with my hair. “Second thoughts about leaving your territory?”

“No. It just…feels too easy.”

I feel a soft pressure against my shin and look up to Alana glaring at me. “Are you asking for trouble?”

“Not asking for it.” She has a point. Why curse a good thing. As my elf says, cursing a victory is bad luck. “Nevermind,” I say, as I relax against my wife. “Let’s just enjoy the journey.”

And we do. Traveling is slow and boring. There’s no getting around it, but we break up the bland scenery and long silences with stories. Mundane ones, the little things that get lost in the city-razing and long nights of debauchery.

Night comes on quickly. We disembark to a roaring fire. Bell is quick to raise seats from the loose earth and we settle around the warmth as we wait for a warm meal.

It’s a perfect moment.

Of course it can’t pass like that.

Geneva appears in front me as I’m finishing my stew. I raise a brow. “Yes?”

“A large group is approaching.”

No. There’s no way. I refuse to believe this cursed road is sending me more problems. Is it impossible for me to go anywhere in this country without being harassed.

“I swear to the saints, if it’s that cape-wearing bastard—”

“As amusing as that would be, it isn’t bandits. They don’t ride bearing the seal.”

A royal. There’s already a prince in the city. Isn’t that enough?

“Do you know who it is?”

“The occupants of the main carriage didn’t leave while I flew over.”

“And you won’t fly over again because…”

“Because the royal knights are the few that would notice birds flying over their camp multiple times. Or different birds. Even flying over their heads once netted me suspicion. If I appear anywhere near them again, in any form, they’ll kill first and investigate after.”

“Their thoughts tell you that?”

“Their posture did. I didn’t catch any of their thoughts. They had to be shielded.”

Makes sense. If they’re coming to New Quest, they know of me and my succubi. “You can’t sneak up on them?”

“Perhaps. Whether or not I’m successful, it will consume a lot of mana that may be needed should they prove hostile.”

The king wouldn’t be that stupid…would he?

“We’ll have to set up a watch.”

“No need to worry, my summoner. I will keep watch but I doubt it will be necessary. They are over an hour’s ride away and have already set up their camp. The privileged are not known for keeping a brisk pace. If we remain still, I doubt we’ll see them to noon.”

Noon, is it? I won’t throw away the chance to prepare for this latest disaster.

“If it’s a royal, we should welcome them properly.”

“Of course, my summoner.”