Chapter 14

Krarshe stretched his back, trying to relax the tense muscles in his lower back. Lycia followed his example after she finished planting the young seedling, the light of the early evening sun illuminating her golden hair.

"Forty-five! Let's see you top that! ... Hmm?" she asked when she noticed him looking at her.

"Oh, nothing, sorry."

"No, what? Do I have dirt on my face or something?"

"No, no. Nothing like that."

"Then what?" she insisted, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Krarshe wasn't sure what to say. Telling her that he was just looking at her beauty would be...

"Good work, you two!" Marcel called, walking over to them. "Glad we had a couple of young, strong adventurers to help this year."

"Too bad we didn't have a certain headman to help." Lycia shot a look at him.

"Yes indeed, and I would have been happy to help, were it not for these old injuries..."

"What injuries?" Krarshe pressed.

"How's about we go pay Esther a visit? My treat."

Just going to dodge the question, huh? Krarshe sighed.

"This from the one with a tab as long as the Silver River?" asked one of the farmers as he approached, wiping his dirty hands on a damp rag.

"It's fine, Denis. Esther knows I'm good for it."

"Heh, whatever ya say," he said, handing a clean wet towel to Krarshe and Lycia.

Before Marcel could retort, Krarshe interjected. "Sounds good. I'll take you up on the offer."

"As will I. Besides, spending time alone at home isn't my idea of fun," Lycia said.

"Well, you could have kept using my spare room."

"No thanks. I prefer my bed and my room."

Marcel shrugged. "So, off to the tavern?"

"Let's." Lycia draped the now dirty rag over a fence post. "Thanks for the towel, Denis."

He nodded to her, then to Krarshe as he followed Lycia's example.

The three made their way to The Tavern as they had numerous times over the nearly quarter-cycle since returning to Valenfort, often after the two had helped Marcel with various tasks around the village. Assisting was normal for Krarshe, per his agreement with Marcel. As for Lycia, Krarshe wasn't sure why she helped every day. Maybe boredom, maybe to distract herself. He didn't have it in him to ask her directly, but she seemed happy doing it. That was enough.

As they walked into The Tavern, Marcel said, "Esther! Three of whatever you got cooking today!"

Krarshe could hear a muffled call from the kitchen amidst the banging and clanging of pots.

"Ah! I's hea'man!" a little girl yelled from one of the tables when she saw Marcel.

She came running over to Marcel. The woman with her followed while the man at their table handled payment for their meal with Esther's son.

"Hea'man! Hea'man!" She jumped around. "Look! Mommy did this!" She showed the braid in her hair.

"Well now! That's very beautiful."

"That's just like mine," Lycia said as she squatted down to meet the young girl. "Well. Yours is neater than mine. I need to do it again..." She fiddled with her braid, slowly coming undone over the past several days. She ran her fingers along it. "Maybe I should try it myself..." she muttered under her breath.

The little girl continued to show off to Marcel. Her hair, her dress, her shoes. The little girl was nearly out of breath going through it all. All the while Marcel just smiled and praised. Though, it seemed different from his usual banter.

The smile on his face didn't match the pained look in his eyes.

Marcel gave a half-hearted nod to the girl's mother, who returned an awkward half-smile.

"Come along, dear. We should get home," said the girl's father, now done with paying.

Marcel watched him but didn't say anything. The man didn't even make eye contact with Marcel as he walked past, let alone give a greeting or farewell.

The mother ushered their daughter out, giving a slight bow before exiting.

"Hea'man! Bye-bye!"

Marcel waved and gave a bittersweet smile as the little girl left with her parents. He was quiet after that.

"What was that about?" Krarshe asked Lycia.

"Better to not bring it up, probably," she replied.

"... Well then! Let's find us a table, shall we?" Marcel said, seemingly back to his usual self.

"Uhh... Right." The suddenness with which the moment ended left Krarshe a bit perplexed, but he tried to just go along with it.

The three sat down. No more than a minute later, Esther and her son came out with dishes of food and drinks.

"Thank you, as always, Esther," said Marcel.

"Right. If it weren't for these two, ya would be getting nothing."

"Why else would I bring them?"

"Wasn't this payment for farm work?" Krarshe asked.

"... Sure, why not?"

"As long as I'm getting food, doesn't matter to me," Lycia said, picking up her spoon.

Esther laughed. "Good on ya, Ellycia. Just don't go learning any bad habits from this one." She gestured toward Marcel. "Oh, any word on ya mom?"

Lycia lowered her spoon. "Nothing."

"Oh, Ellycia..." she said, bringing a hand up to her cheek. "I'm sure she's just fine. She's strong, ya know that."

Lycia nodded. "Yeah, I know..." she said, her fingers tracing her braid again. She breathed deeply. "Honestly, if we haven't heard anything by now, we probably won't."

Marcel nodded. "And she's probably fine if I haven't received word from the guild."

"Mmm." She thought for a moment. "My mother wanted us to continue our training, too."

"Does that mean ya'll be leaving again?"

Lycia nodded. "What do you think about heading out tomorrow, Krarshe? Not that I could force you to go..."

"Where you go, I go. You know that."

"Oh my!"

"Told you, Esther. These two are... Well, you know." Marcel smiled mischievously.

Lycia blushed at their reactions.

"I- Y-you know! We told your mother we'd keep each other safe! That's what I meant!" Krarshe frantically tried to explain himself. Esther and Marcel weren't relenting.

"Well, I ought to return to the kitchen. Safe journeys, ya lovebirds," Esther said, laughing to herself.

"I didn't realize Esther was almost as bad as you," Krarshe grumbled.

"Is this normal?!"

"It's just us having fun at the expense of the youth, Ellycia. Besides, you two have the cutest reactions!" He pounded the table as he laughed.

"Esther, I think Marcel said he's paying his tab."

"No! Karshe, I'm sorry! Really!"

"Relax. It's just us having fun at the expense of the youth." Krarshe's lips curled into a wicked smile.

Lycia laughed. "Serves you right."

Marcel raised his hands in surrender. "You're right. I shouldn't tease my elders."

Krarshe took a drink from his mug, still feeling smug about his revenge. "So, should we just head back to the guild in Remonnet?"

"I guess. We can find some simple quests for now, but it'd be better to find an adventuring party to travel with."

Krarshe's heart sank. For some reason, he wasn't keen on travelling with strangers, or anyone else for that matter. "I guess it would let us take a greater variety of quests."

She nodded. "I suspect with our level of experience, we'd have no choice but to gather herbs or something. We wouldn't really be practicing our spells."

"Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out." Krarshe took another drink. Wait a second... "We should probably stay in the city, right? Can't be travelling back and forth every day."

"Would be best, but-"

"I know just the place!"

Lycia and Marcel both recoiled at Krarshe's sudden outburst. "O-oh?"

"Yeah! It's a place I've stayed at before, and it has the best staff! We're practically friends!"

Lycia raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you say so. I hope we can afford it."

"Don't worry, I've got it covered."

"Well, look who's all confident now in front of his girl." Marcel laughed.

She groaned. "I guess it'd be worth it just to get away from his teasing..."

Krarshe nodded.

"Well, eat up. We'll have this be your farewell dinner. Esther! Bring us a round!"

"You just wanted to drink..."

"Always!"

The three laughed.

Krarshe was more excited now than ever. Finally, I'll be able to talk to my friends again!

* * *

The whole city felt lively and bright. Maybe it was the weather warming, letting people leave their heavy cloaks at home. Maybe it was the influx of fish, leading to a greater flow of coin. Or, maybe it was just Krarshe's mood coloring his perception. Regardless, Krarshe felt more cheerful than he had in a while. Even the harassment from the street vendors felt like a friendly greeting.

"What has you in such good spirits?"

Apparently his mood was clear enough for Lycia to take notice. "It's been a while since I've seen these friends. They were like a second family to me while I was there."

"I can't even picture you being that friendly. And, can you stop humming that song?!"

"Not a fan of The Five Curses?"

"That's what it's supposed to be?"

"Uh-huh. And hope you get used to it. Their bard plays it a lot. Though, he may have learned some new songs by now..."

Lycia let out an exasperated sigh. "Maybe we should find another inn."

"Oh come now, it'll be fine. Besides, you'll love the staff. Ah, there it is." Krarshe led Lycia across the street to the entrance of The Easy Lute.

The dining room was largely empty, save for a couple patrons still eating their midday meals. Valerie, who was clearing one of the nearby tables, paused and stared as he walked in.

"Karshe?" she finally said after the surprise wore off. "What are you-" She shook her head. "No, no, you need to get out of here."

"What?"

"Just trust me, you need to leave. Now!"

"Wait, Val. What-"

The clunk of a dropped tray rang out from the far side of the room. Na'kika stood there, mouth agape, staring at him.

"Curses! Get out now!" shouted Val in a hushed tone.

Krarshe looked at the panicked waitress again. "Na'kika, what's wrong with Val?" As he turned back, Na'kika was gone. Huh?

The stunned patrons were all looking up. Following their eyes, he saw Na'kika leaping over the tables, flying through the air toward him, knife drawn.

She slammed into him, taking him to the floor.

Na'kika sat on his chest, pinning his shoulder to the floor with her free hand, knife poised to strike him right in the eye. Her breath was ragged through her bared teeth as she scowled at him.

"Uh... H-hey there... Na'kika..." Krarshe said nervously, his eyes flicking between the tip of her knife and her furious amber eyes. "I... uhh... like the hair," he added, glancing at her longer orange-red hair as it now hung down past her shoulder as he tried to placate her.

"I thought these people were your friends? 'Like a second family,' you said."

"Yeah, they are. Or, maybe were?" Krarshe responded silently.

Krarshe noticed Val just covering her face with one hand, the other resting on her hip. She must have known this would happen.

Turning back to his assailant, he said, "I told you I'd be back, right? Na'kika?" He smiled as best he could given his current circumstances.

Na'kika's glaring slowly softened, the scowl gradually turning to quivering. Tears started to well up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for leaving, especially HOW I did. Really, I'm sorry."

The knife fell to the floor just next to his head as her tears began to fall onto his face. She began to frantically nuzzle him, rubbing her cheek against him.

"Ah-!" Lycia let out a shocked noise before catching herself. She cleared her throat. When Na'kika continued to have her way with Krarshe, she did so again but louder.

Krarshe got the message. "Na'kika? Mind if I get up now?"

She backed off, full of still-shaky smiles. She picked up her knife, slid it into the sheath on her thigh beneath her skirt, and got off him.

Once Krarshe stood back up, Na'kika swiftly slapped him, nearly knocking him back to the floor. "Ah... Was that necessary?" he asked.

"Yes, yes it was," Val answered for Na'kika. "As is this, you dreg." She punched him hard in the arm. "Arguably, you deserve worse, but we'll leave it there for now."

"... I guess I accept that. Sorry..."

"What did you do to them, exactly?" Lycia asked.

"I'll... explain later... Maybe..." As he said it, an idea occurred to him.

"So, what brings you back after leaving like that? And who's your friend?" Valerie asked, gesturing toward Lycia.

"Well... This is Lycia, my-"

"Ellycia," Lycia interjected.

Krarshe couldn't tell if he was imagining it, but she seemed irked for some reason. "Right. Ellycia, my new magic teacher's daughter and fellow apprentice."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Valerie. And she's Na'kika."

Na'kika uncrossed her arms long enough to give a slight curtsey before going back to giving Krarshe the cold shoulder.

"Please don't mind her. She has... reasons for her silence. Besides, her ire is directed at him."

"I told you, I'm sorry."

Na'kika pouted, turning away even more.

"So, the second question?" Val pressed.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you back all of a sudden? Come to visit your favorite girls?"

Krarshe could feel Lycia's glare boring through the back of his head. He laughed off Valerie's comment. "I'm not opposed to visiting friends, of course, but no. We actually need rooms."

Valerie smiled mischievously. "One or two?"

Na'kika's tail twitched but maintained her posture.

"Two if they're available." Despite Val's joking, the atmosphere strangely felt heavier than when Na'kika had her knife to his face.

She pulled him by the arm, her bosom pressing against it. "You're in luck! We have the rooms you need for some... private time."

"Wha-?" Krarshe recoiled, but she just squeezed his arm tighter.

That's when he noticed she wasn't looking at him, but rather past him. At the other two.

"R-right! W-well, can we g-get going?" Lycia said, stepping forward toward the counter, pulling Krarshe by his free arm. "Excuse me!" Lycia called to the innkeeper, William, behind the counter.

Krarshe looked back to see Val giggling and Na'kika flailing wildly, clearly upset.

"Oh!" Krarshe wrenched free of Lycia's grip. "Na'kika. I... I wanted to make it up to you, for leaving as rudely as I did."

Na'kika raised a suspicious eyebrow at him.

"I want to see if I can teach you something."

Na'kika cocked her head to the side.

"I want to try to teach you some magic," he said, using yaraada.

Na'kika's ears twitched as she looked for where the voice was coming from. Valerie seemed spooked as well, checking behind her.

Krarshe smiled.

Na'kika and Valerie turned back to Krarshe. Na'kika's mouth slowly fell open.

"Wait, was that... you?!" Val asked.

"What do you say? Want to try it?"

The biggest smile he'd ever seen spread across Na'kika's face. She pounced on him again and nuzzled him even more forcefully than she had earlier, her orange, white-tipped tail whipping wildly.

"I take that as a yes."

"Krarshe..."

He could tell Lycia was displeased with this. And he realized he was being too bold again. But if he could do it, regardless of how difficult it would be, his heart would be at ease. It was like fate brought him to this point. Since he'd met her, he wished he could help the poor catfolk, his friend.

Success or failure, he knew he had to try.