Ch 19 The Return

We began our walk towards Lak'Tambu once again. Atouk took the lead.

After walking for half a day, Atouk spoke up.

"We could probably head out to the path. They should have given up tracking us by now. Especially this far out."

Maybe fifteen minutes and the path was in view. We followed it for another hour. Jezzy was looking a bit tired and worn.

"Are you okay? Do you need to rest Jezzy?"

She nodded.

"I'm hungry too."

We were about to walk off the path to scavenge something to eat when Atouk raised his head in alarm.

"We need to hide. A carriage is headed this way."

Delicia and Atouk were gone in an instant. I looked behind me. It was far but, I think I recognized it. I walked off the path and hid behind a nearby large tree. I watched as it got closer.

"Lake! You are too close. They will see you!"

I ignored him. When I was sure I knew who it was, I stepped back out onto the path. It had to be Butkis. The same carriage that took me to bastion that day. Jezzy must have seen it too. She joined me on the path.

"What are you doing!?"

Called out Atouk. The carriage was hauling a second one. It was covered in wooden furniture and tied down with many ropes. I was able to make out the driver. I could see Berry giving a thumbs up. When it caught up to us, It stopped. The door opened and Jazzy practically flew out of the carriage, landing on Jezzy.

"SIS! They said you were dead! I couldn't believe it. I knew you were okay. I could feel it!"

Butkis casually stepped down from the carriage.

"A pleasure, yet again, Sir Lake. I, Sir Butkis the Third, Hope that you found my offering worthy of the price you paid."

I was not willing to tell him that I tricked Delicia into biting my hand off to get out instead of using his key. I'm sure he still doesn't know about me and the potion too.

"Ah yes, I had almost given up on survival until I realized what you had given me."

He bowed to me.

"A pleasure to assist. I must say though."

He raised his head only.

"I am still at a loss as to how you managed to escape."

He stood up straight now.

"All the guards are saying, is that you and my precious employee fell from the execution hole into the ravine. Your clothes tell stories of death that have obviously failed. You look as healthy as the day we met."

I did not really want to explain my involvement in the potion of Rage to this guy. He helped me but, he still has a sketchy side.

"I will show you something that I don't show many. I will leave it at that."

I pulled out the pen-sword and clapped my hands together in order to summon its true shape.

I grabbed the hilt with my right hand and held out my left pinky. I slashed it off in one smooth cut. Jazzy looked a bit frightened and held onto Jezzy. Butkis only raised one brow. Berry got closer to inspect my actions.

My finger bled a little. It stopped after a few seconds. The bone began to form. Muscle and sinew began attaching to the bone. It almost looked like flesh was twisting around the bone in the center. Once the flesh filled out the base, the skin began forming. Once the flesh in the tip of my pinky was finished forming all that was left was the skin and nail. All this happened in less than 30 seconds.

"If I lose larger pieces of my body, it takes longer to reform. This is part of my special power."

"Intriguing."

He was not surprised much. He was more fascinated than anything.

"This is the fabled potion of Rage? I thought It was completely different."

He already knew. Go figure.

"This is a side effect of the potion."

Jezzy's stomach growled. Jazzy grabbed her hand and began to pull her.

"Oh, Jezz, are you hungry? We have some food in the carriage. Come on."

"Yeah, I had some food this morning but, nothing since then."

The sisters disappeared into the carriage.

"Sir, Lake. Would you and your associates like to accompany us for a time down the road?"

He knows about Atouk and Delicia, too?

They both wandered out and stood next to me.

"You are not afraid of us?"

"My dear feline friend. I have known that you were sharing a room with my customer. It only made sense that the two of you were looking for the other one to rescue. I have business in this direction and I believe that It is the same direction you are headed. At least, for a good portion of the trip."

"I think it's fine, Atouk. If you don't want to though, I'll stay with you."

Delicia wasted no time in getting into the carriage. Atouk looked at me.

"I guess we are going in."

We filled the seats on the carriage and began our new trek.

The twins sat on either side of Atouk fawning all over him and his soft fur. I sat between Butkis and Delicia. She spent most of her time looking out the window.

"So, what brings you out this way? Did you know where we were going?"

Butkis waved his hand in disagreement.

"Oh my, no. I had no idea where you would go. For all I knew, you and Jezzy were dead. This is but a happy coincidence. The King is reportedly ill and the advisor has been targeting me as an accessory to an attempted assassination. I used the money I got from you to get out of debt and packed up to remove myself from Bastion before the guards could find me. Jazzy and Berry had nowhere else to go so they came with me. I plan to go to the Faelands and set up as a neutral trader."

Atouk Ignored the girls for a second to but into the conversation.

"The Faelands are not easy to get into. You likely won't get past the edge of the forest. Especially since you are human."

"There aren't many human neutral traders. This is my advantage. That, and I have done services for a fairy in the past. It is this fairy that I am wedging my bets on."

Jazzy began to nibble on Atouk's ear.

"Eh? Wha... Please stop. That is gross."

Jezzy made sad puppy dog eyes at Atouk.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."

Atouk buried his face and ears in his paws. Butkis leaned forward and opened a trunk in the center of the seating area.

"Care for a snack? This is the last one of these on hand. It may be another day before we part ways."

He pulled out an apple-like fruit. Why not. I grabbed it and said thanks. Before I could bite into it, I noticed Delicia was staring at it.

"Here. I don't need it."

She looked right into my eyes.

"But, you didn't eat anything this morning either. Aren't you hungry?"

I placed a hand on her front paw.

"You are a caring soul, aren't you?"

I smiled and moved the fruit closer to her. She grabbed it with her mouth and brought her paws up to hold it while she ate. We traveled all night. Berry showed me how to lead the horses and I took over for a bit so he could get some sleep. By morning Atouk recognized where we were and pointed out a river nearby, We stopped to allow the horses rest and water. Some food was scrounged up and shared over a fire.

"The split in the path to the Faelands is not far from here. If you wish to leave ahead, we can make the rest of the way home ourselves. We can cut through the forest at this point to save some time."

Atouk had informed Butkis.

"If that is what you wish. We shall continue without you."

Butkis bowed to Atouk. The horses were again rigged to the carriage.

"Farewell to you three. I wish you a pleasant journey. Let us depart, girls."

Berry was already on top of the carriage and waved at me. I waved back.

"I'm gonna miss you Lake."

"Me too."

The twins looked like they were about to cry. I reached out and brought them both in for a hug.

"I will miss you both, too. I will never forget our time together."

I felt a hand on my crotch.

"Uh, Jazzy. Maybe not put your hand there? I am taken, if you recall."

"What? I'm just hugging you."

Jezzy looked up.

"That was me."

She was shyly looking away while blushing. Jazzy playfully pushed her away.

"You! How did you get to feel him up before me?!"

Jezzy smiled and walked around her toward the carriage.

"You snooze, you lose."

Some sayings are the same here, huh?

"UHG!"

Jazzy ran after her and jumped on her back. Jezzy struggled the rest of the way to the carriage.

Atouk took a few steps forward.

"Butkis!"

He called out. Butkis looked this way.

"If you ever find yourselves among the panthers I would be glad to vouch for you as a neutral trader."

Butkis bowed.

"I pray we meet again."

He disappeared into the carriage and the door closed behind him. Berry gave me one last thumbs up.

"Take care, Berry!"

They rode down the path for a bit before we decided to make our way back to the panther's home.

I began to see the large colorful trees that cover Lak'Tambu. It was a welcome sight. Mery was so close. I heard the wind blow ever so slightly. I stopped in my tracks. Was that me? Was I happy to be back near her? I can't be feeling this way. I could hurt her and others. It was a bit depressing. I had to harden my heart for her sake. Delicia turned around.

"Something wrong, human?"

"No. I'm okay. Let's go."

I resumed my walk. We reached the first line of guards.

"Oh look, Atouk returns with yet another human."

Delicia was tightly following behind Atouk. She moved out to the side for them to see.

"PRINCESS!"

They bowed at her sight. She spoke to them when we got close.

"Just so you know, this is the same human Atouk left with. This human has now saved two of your Princesses. I would suggest you hold your tongues."

I swear I heard one of them whimper. I was slightly amused by her attitude. At the same time, I was hoping she was not going down a bad path that many rulers do. Even if she is not in line for the royal seat. At around the same area that Mery was taken away when I first arrived, guards came for Delicia to take her home.

"No. I will make my own way home. Leave me be."

She refused the guards.

"What will you do now, Princess?"

Atouk asked.

"I will go where you go. You took the time to save me from certain death. I would have you escort me all the way."

I playfully scratched her head.

"Are you saying you feel safer with us?"

I let out a teasing grin. She looked surprised.

"I... What, no. It's not that."

"I'm just teasing you. I don't mind. Where to next, Atouk?"

"I am going to apply the after battle paint of a warrior."

I understood. Delicia and I followed him to the same pyramid that he took me to before. Last time, there was no one else at the top. This time. There were guards halfway up. They let us pass. King J'Hosh was there at the top waiting for his daughter. She ran up to him and snuggled against his chest. She looked so tiny compared to him.

"Daddy. I'm home."

I could hear how happy she was in her voice.

"Welcome home Delicia. I am so happy to have you back. Safe."

I had almost forgotten how deep his voice was.

Atouk stopped at the top to bow to his King. I did the same.

Atouk stood up and walked over to the ritual area to begin painting himself with blood from a bird. I heard Delicia talking to her father.

For once, she sounded like a child. She was bragging to her father. It was cute.

I felt a bit out of place. I was just standing there.

Atouk had his ritual. Delicia had her father to tell adventures to. The King had his daughter to listen to. The guards had their posts to be at.

I was the odd one out. I felt like that enough times in my own world.

Honestly, I never felt at home in my own house. I had my room to put things in. I just lived there. Things had their places outside of my room and unless someone else changed it, that's where it would stay. It was not an abusive home at all. But, how do you feel at home when the place you live just feels, like you don't belong.

These memories were brought back from the position I was in now. The feeling of being out of place. I knew I was an oddity in this world from the start.

Even so, this moment here is... almost torture to me.