WANTED POSTER

I follow Tia.  Having left the clearing, we return to the Rhoads Farm property.  I feel a bit anxious.  I can feel she not only has a lot to tell me, but it might be too much.

We begin to pass by the farmhouse as part of our route back to our shed home.  I take notice to Mr. Rhoads sat in a chair on his outdoor deck, smoking a pipe.  He has taken notice to us as well.

"How are things today, Tia?"  He asks her in his usual gruff voice.  Seeing him on my day-off has me feeling weird, not knowing how I should speak with him.

Tia tosses out her usual smile.  "Clear so far."

"Good.  That's more than can be said for that sky, though."  Rhoads lightly gestures upward and behind me.  Looking up, I hadn't noticed it until now.  Thick clouds slowly heading toward us.  "Not storm-worthy, but might be rain.  Why don't you come in for supper?"

Before we can answer at all, Rhoads had turned and began to walk back inside his house.  It was less of a suggestion, and more of an expectation.  I was definitely hungry, and I found myself enjoying the Rhoads' company during the time we've all worked together.  It was an honor to be invited in, and Tia knew that as well.

~

We are all sat at the table.  Holden across from me, and Mr. Rhoads at the head of course.  All but Liam.  I guess he does most of the cooking?  Knowing him, he's probably just trying to impress Tia.  Poor guy.  Glancing around the house, it is quite beautiful.  Old and spacious.  A home of many generations.  Expertly-drawn portraits of, who I assume to be, their family or ancestors.  One in particular was a smiling muscular man with a mustache and goatee.

Sat beside me is Tia.  I notice something under her hand.  A folded paper of sorts.  Her head rests on her hand with her elbow on the table as she remains looking away from me.  She hasn't said anything to me yet.

I glance out the window.  The grey clouds are almost above us, as they have already blocked the early evening sun.

"So how's the training coming along, Reiji?"  Holden, enthusiastic as always.

"Oh-- it's going very well, I'd say.  Honestly, not as hard as I was expecting."  I rub the back of my head, trying to remain humble.

Grant chimes in.  "If you find it easy then you're doing it wrong."

To be expected from Mr. Rhoads.  I half-expected Tia to say something on my behalf, but she remains silent.

Liam suddenly breaks the silence by entering the room wearing an apron and wearing mitts as he holds the stew-pot in one hand and a ladle in the other.  "Miss Tia-- I have prepared a dish that I pray will be to your liking."

"Just serve it, already."  Grant comedically breaks Liam's boisterous mood.

Dropping the food into my bowl, it actually smells fantastic.  Looks similar to chili.  It smells spicy.  I have missed this scent, I can't wait to try it.

"How much wood did you burn under the pot-- it's scalding hot, Liam."  Grant finding anything to criticize, even if he's absolutely right.  It's still bubbling.

"Better than being lukewarm."  Liam remarks back at his father.  I brace myself for a tense banter.

"Then this is perfect time for friendly conversation with our guests while we wait for it to cool off!"  Holden, the blessed peacemaker, interjects.

Something slides into my peripheral.  Tia had passed me her folded paper.  It has me anxious.  Her odd quietness has me anxious.  What could this little piece of paper possibly be to have her clam-up like this?  Still without looking at me, she says something quietly.  "I'm sorry I kept this from you."

The paper now looks larger than ever.  The Rhoads family all take notice as well.

I pick up the paper.  I begin to unfold it.  Both Holden and Liam slightly lean in, while Grant remains still and patient.

The paper is opened.  The hand-drawn picture of a young man.  I stare at it for a moment.  "A... wanted poster?  Izzwud Ozeki..."

A cooling shiver shoots through my body like I've never felt before.  My eyes widen.  My hands tremble.  I stutter with nothing to say.

"Reiji-- are you okay?"  Holden practically stands up, as if readying himself to catch me if I fall over.

I barely manage to find my words, and I barely manage to say them out loud as tears form in my eyes.  "Th-- this is-- this is my dad!  This is my father!!"  I can't tell if I am overwhelmed with staggering shock or intense happiness.  I don't smile, so it must be the former.  With my unblinking eyes, I look to Tia.  "My dad is here?  In this world right now?!"

"This world?"  Liam glances to his father.

I stand to my feet, the chair falling over behind me.  I demand answers from her.  I demand that she at least look at me.  "Tia!  What does this mean?!  Why does he look like this?!  My father was twice as old when he died!"

She slowly and finally looks at me.  She has an expression of remorse.  "I don't know."

"You don't know?!  Dammit-- this is an actual wanted poster!  Are you hunting him, or something?!"

"I am not hunting him, Reiji-- I promise!"

I grit my teeth tightly.  "Where the hell is my father??!!"

Mr. Rhoads slams his palm on the table.  "Quiet boy!"  I do just that.  I silence myself, looking to the head of the table.  "Where's that calm-collected attitude you always have?  Now pick up your chair... and sit down."

He's right.  My meditative training helped me, but I wasn't ready for this.  I quickly wipe my eyes with the same hand that holds the wanted poster.  I catch my breath.  I turn and pick up the chair.  Sitting back down, I let my light headedness slowly leave.  Seeing that I'm better, Holden sits back down as well.

Grant then speaks calmly to Tia.  "So you been taking care of a Faraway Lord this whole time, Tia."

She pauses for a moment.  "Yes.  His father is also a Faraway Lord."

Grant gives a slight chuckle.  "The odds of that, huh?"  Grant then moves his eyes to me.  "Do you know why Tia is even here on this farm to begin with, Reiji?"

First time he said my name.  I give him my honest answer.  "Not exactly.  She keeps watch for thieves, I thought."

Grant looks back at Tia, almost with disappointment.  "For crying out loud, Tia-- he really doesn't know much, does he?"

She slightly glares back at Grant.  "I was about to tell him everything... but then you invited us in."  With her built-up nerve, Tia faces me, looking into my eyes.  "Your father is in Acteon.  South-east from here.  He is a wanted criminal in this kingdom because he refused all their propositions.  He wanted to work for himself instead."  Tia smiles with a realization.  "I only met him twice, but... I've seen your similarities."

I can see the final puzzle piece in front of me.  "Wait... how Faraway Lords are there?"

There is a silence.  I slowly look to Tia.  She thinks for a moment then gives me an answer.  "Maybe dozens."  That's bigger than I expected.  "The phenomena is known by many, but it's definitely more rare than the other Lords.  Far as I've learned, no one knows how or why people from your world sometimes end up here at all."

I was told to keep my true identity a secret.  I glance to both Holden and Liam.  "How... much do you guys know?"

Holden gives a quick glance to his father, then back to me.  "Our great grandfather is a Forthgoing Lord, but-- do Faraway Lords really come from a different world?  That's not just a made-up story?"  He looks to his father.

"It's true."  Grant replies.

I begin to see the bigger picture.  "So... if I am a Faraway Lord... then what is a Forthgoing Lord?"

Grant takes the liberty of answering.  "Someone who died here and got transported into the future.  My grandfather is a Forthgoing Lord, but that crazy fool's been away from the family farm for months now-- can you believe that?!  He built this farm himself over a hundred years ago, becomes a Lord, and he's not even here to protect it!  That's why I had to hired this alcoholic mage!"  Grant, with comedic melodrama, points at Tia who folds her arms and pouts.

"I'm not an alcoholic-- you just met me when I was drunk down at the village."

"So there.  The Rhoads family's Forthgoing Lord has kicked the hornets nest of Galadwinn politics.  The city don't like my farm making as much money as it has been-- never liked anyone making decent money.  They think it's a threat.  After they got wind of the Peach Farm's "legendary protector" being out of the picture... well, here we are now.  Waiting."

There is an almost comical silence as we all sit with our untouched lukewarm supper.  Grant picks up his spoon and starts stirring his chili.  Taking up a scoop, he gently blows on it.  Soon enough, Tia, Holden, and Liam also start to eat their chili.

I am motionless.  I am not zen.

I glance back at my father's wanted poster for a few moments.  I am then shot by the realization of why Tia is actually here.  What we are waiting for.  "Are we... waiting to be attacked?"

Everyone's silence and expressions all tell me the same obvious answer.