On the Way Home

“So...are we just going to skirt around town?” Chloe asked, clutching her right hand tightly.

“After everything we've been through,” Agnes replied with a cackle. “Do you really think we have anything to fear? Besides, Tumlin needs to get his cart back.”

Hektor froze, staring off into space while the others kept walking. “Oh my! I forgot all about the perfume shipment!” He cried, dashing past his companions to the town gate.

Alexander watched him race forward for a moment before asking “Should we catch up? It sounds like you have reason to be wary of Zylpolis.”

“And if you listened better I wouldn't have had to trek halfway across the continent for you.” Tittered Agnes with a gentle rap on her grandson's back. “Or do you just wish granny would give you two a little alone time?”

Alexander turned a bright shade of red, stammering “I-I fully intend to court Miss Chloe properly! I would never, at least not until I have sought permission from her father!”

“Ooooh, might run into some trouble doing that.” Chloe mused with a giggle. “Long story but he wouldn't be too happy with that. We already have the only blessing that matters.”

“Besides,” Agnes said, sharply to interrupt their goo-goo eyes at each other. “If Tumlin gets there earlier than the rest of us he might be done by the time we get there. I hope we have enough time to see the Stake and Stocking again.”

Alexander blushed again as he asked “T-the Stake and Stocking? How do you know about that place?”

“How do you know about it?” The two ladies turned and asked in unison.

They carried on like this the rest of the way. There was a brief moment of trepedation as they passed through the gate into Zylpolis, but walking around town it wasn't hard to notice how different things felt since their last visit. The oppressive air to the town had lightened, the town guards were fewer in number and not suited for full-scale war the same way they had before. They tried asking some of the townspeople who informed them of the fate of former captain Arkos.

Apparently he had set out the next morning from the eastern gate, aware that the companions were travelling to Trelle. They rode hard and swiftly, assured they would be able to catch the three of them within at most a day or two. Of course, they decided to take the road less travelled and slipped right by them. While they were out though, they ran into soldiers from another city-state. In their pursuit they had created a rather grave diplomatic incident.

Arkos was arrested and while there was some lingering fear in the people of Zylpolis, the last remnant of his influence faded when a string of people came pouring in speaking of freedom from the hellish prison mine up on the steppe. Captain Arkos justified much of his repression on the fear of giant attacks, so the embarrasment abroad combined with losing an enemy to rally around made his faction fall apart as quickly as King Dunne's did.

The milled about for a while, taking in the sights of the liberated town until Hektor caught up to them. He seemed jovial and cartless when he appeared, informing the rest of the group that Baron Tom had evidently arranged for the delivery to be made. Meaning it likely wouldn't even be too terribly behind their expected arrival in Trelle.

“It's almost like it was a little too wasy for us.” Chloe opined as the group enjoyed a quick meal from a street vendor.

“I wouldn't say that,” Hektor replied. “Just helped Ms. Agnes was usually on top of things.”

“There are advantages to elderly heroes.” Agnes offered wistfully.

“Where did you hear a thing like that?” Alexander asked.

Agnes shot her grandson a wicked grin before answering, “From the same man that sent us both on such a wild quest.”

“You mean, you actually got to meet the seer?”

“Oh yes,” Agnes said with a cackle. “He was every bit the posh twit I expected him to be, but I guess he had a few good observations.”

After a brief visit to the house of ill repute where their duo became a trio, the quartet set off for the next stop on their journey. They couldn't quite make it back to River's Bend that day, but made use of the long daylight hours of summer to press all the way to Aruelia's tavern Hektor and Agnes had stopped by before. The fatigue of their long journey didn't leave much energy for a rambunctious night, but Agnes found herself restless enough to take a brief stroll by the river.

She was sitting by the waterwheel, enjoying it's slow, steady dribbling sound when Hektor found her there. Quietly taking a seat next to her. The two enjoyed the night air and peaceful scenery for a moment before the boy finally broke their silence.

“We'll be back tomorrow at this pace. How do you feel?”

Agnes stared at the waterwheel for a while, trying to find the words before settling on. “I'll be happy to be back home. Back to my old routine. There's flowers I'm waiting to see bloom again, it'll be time to pick pears from my tree soon. I can't wait to see Lysander's sculpture. But still...is it wrong of me to say I'm not quite ready for tonight to end?”

Hektor laughed before answering. “I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, a quiet and simple life free from trouble really is the best. But I know how you feel. It's hard to go back to the old routine after something like that. Part of me wants to keep pushing, maybe hoped we'd run into soldiers still looking for us or something. I bet after all you've come up with for your magic, you want to see how far you can go.”

“You really are a smart one, Tumlin.” Agnes sighed. “Eh, I was already too old for this adventure. It'll be good to be back. But just...stay with me out here a little longer. Just the two of us, like when it all began.”

“Of course, Ms. Agnes.”

After a quick breakfast the next morning they were on the road to River's Bend. It was a pleasant trip with no further issues. They didn't spend much time in town, but did stop at Chares's bar for lunch. Hektor hadn't ever considered leaving the job of escorting Agnes all the way home unfinished, but his family still made sure he intended to do the right thing.

They made their way up into the foothills. Past the patch of forest where Agnes and Hektor first met, still decorated with charred spider webs. Past the sunny patch near the stream where Agnes dozed off. Then before they knew it, that humble little farm village in the hills came into view.

“Wait!” Hektor pleaded before they reached the first houses. Fiddling with his pack and drawing out Leonaidas's buckler to present to Alexander. “You should have this, right? It's a family heirloom.”

Alexander merely pused the shield back to Hektor, smiling down to him and informing him “You were my grandmother's escort for this glorious conquest. I'm certain my father would want you to keep it.”

“I do wonder why we found it so deep in the Wood of Artemis.” Chloe pondered aloud. “Guess some stories go untold.”

With one last look at the long and winding road back toward their long journey, the four hiked the rest of the short distance to Agnes's home. Alexander's companion Stellios was out in the yard, tending to Agnes's plants like he was asked. The boy was stunned when he saw the party of four crossing the threshold, rushing past his long time friend to wrap Agnes in a tight embrace.

“Ma'am! You made it back! I'm so relieved. Gran told me not to worry about you b-but all out there by yourself? It was madness!”

“But can't you see?” Agnes cooed, stroking the boy's arm tenderly. “I did have help, and look who we found!”

Stellios's eyes went wide seeing Alexander before him. “Did you? Did she really?”

Alexander laughed, clapping his old friend on the back. “Good on you for sending her my way Stel, guess we should have brought grandmother along to begin with!”

The assembled group turned when they heard a creaking door across the yard. A thin, elderly man stepped over the tray of food that had been left out for him and he blinked slowly in the sunlight before noticing Agnes.

“Dear! There you are.” Lysander the sculptor called out. “And you have guests! Why...is that young Xander and the boy from up the road? You two look so grown up!”

Agnes laughed before responding to her husband. “Yes! You'll never believe the stories we have to share. Is the statue done?”

“Statue? Oh...yes!” He tittered, beckoning the group to his workshop. “Come see, come see! I call it 'Prophecy Declined.'”

Everyone crowded into the workshop to take in the statue. Even if only one present remembered her like this, the craftsmanship, pose, and shepherd's crook made it obvious who the piece was styled after a younger version of.

“I know you hate the talk of all that giant nonsense, dear.” Lysander offered as he wiped his hands clean. “But that day you heard of, so soon after Leo's birth. The wild fury, the passion...I always thought that woman could have done it. I hope you don't mind.”

“It's lovely, dear.”

All six of them celebrated long into the night. New friends, completed works, a familial homecoming. They had plenty of cause, and it wasn't long before the rest of the village was in on the impromptu festival. Agnes was slow to tell them what had really happened, letting some version of the story where she met a successful Alexander returning home spread throughout those close to her. Chloe and Hektor had their reservations, but understood their friend never wanted more than the simple life she had carved out for herself in this humble farming village.

The party ran all the way until the next morning, and after things quickly went back to the way they had been for so many years before. Agnes was thrilled to yet again have nothing to look forward to more than her back yard, her pot of tea, and the pear tree with new fruit almost ready to pick.