Ch 21 The Emergency

Mery and I spent the next few days visiting places I had never been to in Lak'Tambu. I traveled with her while she was performing royal duties. I learned some more about the Setangyan people.

In one location we had visited, there was a slave working. When I saw the seal on the slave's arm, I immediately thought of Sophie. I wanted to find her. I wanted to make sure she is still safe.

At the same time, I didn't want to leave Mery nor, put her in more danger. Admittedly, She was probably safer away from me.

I brought it up with her. She said she would go with me but, she had to perform more duties for the people before she could take a leave from her responsibilities.

A few days turned into a week. A week to a month. A month turned to four. I was enjoying my time with Mery very much. The nights were more than just warm with her. I just felt worried to the point that I was not willing to wait much longer.

I decided to bring up Sophie with her once more. It was on a late morning just outside of our house.

"I need to go make sure she is okay. I left her alone. She probably thinks I'm dead or that I forgot about her. She came from a bad place and I felt like I had to protect her. Leaving her alone for so long. I feel horrible."

Mery looked at me with a sad understanding. She had been using her human form most of the past four months. This was easier to discern her facial expressions.

"Lake, I know you want to go. I do? I want to go with you but, I just can't leave yet. I cant?"

"I could go with him."

I heard that voice a few times since I got back from Bastion. It was Mery's twin sister, Inu.

"I can watch over him for you, sis."

"Inu, I don't want you to take my place. I don't? I want to be with my husband. Just wait a little longer, Lake. Please."

I leaned my head on her shoulder.

"Okay."

She leaned her head against mine and placed her hand on my right cheek. She is always so gentle.

Hopefully, Estheria's friend is still keeping good care of Sophie. If she hates me when I get there... Maybe she would be better off staying there.

Mery pulled away from me and attempted to leave. Before Mery could move on with her day, I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me.

I kissed her. She did not resist. She wanted it as much as I did. We let go of our embrace and she waved at me as she left.

I heard soft footsteps behind me.

"If you decide to sneak out, I'll go with you."

Inu's name is more ironic than she will ever realize. She is a cat that happens to be as loyal as a dog. She is shy and cautious when she first meets someone. After she warmed up to me, she has always been friendly with me. Trying to look out for me like an older sister would for a younger brother.

"Thanks for having my back, Inu. I'll let you know if I ever do that."

I wanted to go to the shops today. Restock on some food items and maybe get some flowers for Mery.

I made my rounds and found what I needed. I never found any flowers that caught my eye, though.

I noticed a new troll in the neutral trader area. He looked a bit scrawny compared to other trolls. He had deep forest green-colored skin. Bright orange hair sticking straight up about four or five inches. Trolls have four digits per limb, unlike humans and elves who have five.

I wonder why he showed up now. Usually, neutral traders show up in groups of the same race. This troll was alone. I decided to let him be and go on with my day.

I made my way home and bumped into Mery on her way out.

"Hi."

She kissed me.

"Hey, Mery. What's up?"

"I finished my tasks early today. I did? I am going to visit with my parents. I should be back before nightfall. I should?"

She waved at me as she left.

I looked up into the sky. Maybe an hour or so before she is back.

I made dinner for Mery and me. She likes meat that comes from a giant lizard. It isn't in every meat shop but, it's not rare.

I cooked it the way she likes and set up dinner on the outdoor patio table. I waited for only a few minutes before she returned from visiting her parents. I watched as she came through the gate. She almost looked as though she were in a hurry.

"I could smell dinner before I even came up to the gate. It smells soooooo goooood. It does? I think someone wants some extra loving tonight."

She winked at me.

"Hah! You're funny. I could use a little extra loving every night."

I raised my eyebrows at her a few times.

We had our meal and enjoyed talking about our day. I didn't have time to clean up the tableware before she dragged me into the bedroom for another amazing night together.

It never got old.

In the morning, I decided to go flower hunting seriously this time. Mery got ready to leave. I hugged her and gave her a kiss on the neck.

"I love you."

She pulled away from me, blushing.

"I..."

She flipped some of her hair back and out of her face.

"Love you, too."

Her smile was bright and brimming from edge to edge. I gave her another quick peck on the lips and we parted ways for the day.

I got ready myself and left the house maybe ten minutes after Mery.

I started with the neutral traders. There were five elf stalls. Four troll stalls, Including the new one I saw yesterday. There were also two fairy stalls and a dark elf stall.

The dark elf was another oddity of a neutral trader. Though, he had been around for over a month now. The elves and the dark elves don't get along too well so they park their carts far away from each other.

I stopped by the dark elf stall first. He was tall and his skin was a dark brown. His hair was jet black and the length was down past his shoulders. He had a finely trimmed goatee. Not very muscular but, he still looked intimidating and angry.

"Hello, do you have any flowers for sale? I'm looking for a surprise for my wife."

His face brightened up fast.

"Well, well. A human with manners. This is refreshing. Unlike those elves over there."

He gestured toward them.

"Come, I have some around the other side of my cart. These are rare beauties here that are hard to find. Shops won't carry stock like these."

The ones he was pointing at were some of the flowers Atouk taught me not to touch.

"These poison ones?"

He was caught.

"Oh, no, no, no. Not... that's not. I meant these, right here! I get them mixed up all the time."

He let out an unconfident laugh. He knew he was caught trying to swindle me.

"Maybe I'll just go over to the elves on the other side. I have never been swindled by them."

He was mad.

"If you want the good stuff, those elves won't have anything you are looking for. I have something so rare, It's illegal."

I looked at him in casual disbelief. He opened a hidden door in his carriage and stopped before I could see anything behind a black curtain.

"How do I know you won't reveal me to the authorities?"

"For the poison flowers you tried selling to me, or the illegal thing you have yet to show me? Either way, I could report you. Why have I not done it yet?"

He thought for a moment while stoking the goatee on his chin.

"Okay fine."

He opened the door all the way and pushed the curtain aside.

"These are called platinum flowers. They never wilt, They are naturally forming and they cost more than most can make. I can tell from your fancy clothes that you make more than a few copper per day."

These threads were a gift from the King himself. The dark elf does not need to know that though.

The flowers were of a plain, rounded four petal shape. The color is what catches the eye. It looked almost pure silver. I couldn't tell the difference if it really was platinum or not. It's probably expensive though.

I do have my sources for money. I like showing Berthri designs for new inventions. Inventions that I had back in my own world. Some of them sell for huge amounts and I get a cut.

"He is right, Lake. Those are illegal. They are usually confiscated and brought to the treasury."

Inu made her way through the bushes behind us.

"Maybe if he sold them to you for cheap, I wouldn't have to report him for smuggling."

The dark elf got on his knees.

"OH PLEASE! Please don't. I'll sell them cheap. I promise!"

He looked at me.

"One gold! That's it!"

I had more than enough money to pay that much. Why not.

"Lower."

Inu said.

"What? I could sell these for 1000 gold elsewhere."

"Not today, you can't. Lower the price or you won't be able to sell them ever again."

He looked like he got stabbed and he can't figure out why the blood won't stop.

"50... 40 silver!"

He hung his head low in defeat. I gave him 50.

"I want that curtain to cover them with."

He ripped the cloth right off its hooks and covered the flowers before handing the pot to me.

Inu and I left. He sat there, still dumbfounded as to how that just happened.

"Were you following me all morning, Inu?"

"I have my reasons."

She trotted in triumph over protecting her little brother. If I wasn't trying to hold back my amusement, I would have laughed at her ridiculousness.

"...Juiyo is ..."

I stopped in my tracks. The new troll said the name of the village Sophie was supposed to be in. I walked up to the troll who was chatting with a Setangyan.

"Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear the name Juiyo. I have a friend that is supposed to be there. What's happening?"

The troll looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Ah, well. The thing is, mermaids have been attacking the coasts of the troll peninsula for over six days now. Juiyo is near a coastal village. If that village is overrun, Juiyo is probably going to be next."

As soon as I heard this, I knew I had to leave as soon as possible. I threw a gold coin at the troll.

"Thanks!"

I yelled at him mid-run.

I have to get to Sophie.

"We are going, aren't we?"

Inu asked as she ran next to me.

"I have to leave a note for Mery. I don't want her to worry. Otherwise, yes."

I got home. I left the uncovered pot of platinum flowers on the kitchen table and wrote out a note in Eysian for Mery.

'I have to go. My friend may be in danger and I can not wait any longer. I love you. Nothing in this world could keep me from getting back to you.'

Perfect. I placed the note under the pot of flowers. I left the house and found the nearest transport coach.

"How much to get to the troll peninsula?"

The elf driver casually turned and looked at me.

"I can only take ya most of tha way, not all the way. Last time I came back with arrows in my carriage. The money weren't enough to fixt my cart."

"That's fine. I can finish the walk myself. Just take me now."

"Okay, Thattle be 75 silvers."

I dropped a gold coin in his hand.

"Keep the change."

Inu sat next to me. We were on our way.

"Inu, do you know anything about mermaids? I have heard them mentioned before. I don't think I have ever seen one."

She shook her head.

"I don't know a lot. I heard they have lower halves like fish and upper halves like humans."

The driver turned around.

"I heard the opposites. That they have an upper half like a fish and a lower half like a human."

No information. Not the greatest start.

Inu and I spent most of the ride talking about little things, future plans and other various happenings in Lak'Tambu.

This carriage was pulled by large lizards. They did not need as much rest as horses. We were moving all night. Eventually, we reached the spot where the driver let us out. He gave me a map since I tipped him well. He showed us where we were on the map and where to go from here.

We were basically 75% of the way there. It took another three days to walk, to Skara Magna, the main troll camp at the base of the peninsula. We arrived just as night fell. Since Inu and I were traveling in the forest instead of on the path, we had no confrontations along the way.

"Inu. I need you to shadow me. They are more likely to try to kill you on sight."

She nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

"Don't come out for any reason. Not even if I get wounded."

"Okay."

I heard her whisper but, I have no idea where it came from. I had some money as well as my pen-sword and my life detection bracelet.

How do I do this? If I just come from the front, they will just try to kill me.

"Don't move, human."

A raspy but young male voice. I felt the tip of something sharp at my back.

"Hi. I am not here to make anyone angry. I actually would like to help with the mermaid attacks near Juiyo, if possible."

He was not impressed.

"Move forward."

I began walking forward.

"I really do want to help. I have my reasons."

"Don't care."

No delay in response time. Crap. I don't want to just go around yelling to everyone 'I drank the potion of Rage! I'm gonna eat you. Rawr!'

"What are you going to do with me."

"Gonna eat you. Maybe soup."

If it comes to that, maybe I can take him out while we are alone in his dwelling. I was walked past the initial gate where there were around seven guards.

"Some new meat, eh! I'll get the boys ready for soup."

One of the guards exclaimed.

Okay, maybe I'll have to take out a few more trolls to escape.

I was led to a massive building. It was made with mostly large tree trunks and cloth coverings. It had to be the size of a football stadium. This won't be just a few trolls.

I walked into a massive crowd of trolls on all sides of a coliseum-type structure. A golem and a large beast that I have never seen before were fighting in the pit of the coliseum. A simple description of the beast might be, a tiger pattern yeti. Fur that was orange with black stripes all over its body. It stood upright and had limbs as thick as a fully grown bear torso.

The golem was grabbed and thrown against the wall. He shattered and no longer moved.

Huge roars of cheers went up.

A female troll stood up next to me. She took off her shirt and began spinning it in the air. I noticed her bare, green-colored breasts before she let go. It landed on my face. I pulled it off and let it drop to my side. These trolls are rowdy.

I heard a voice. Even over the crowd, this voice was loud. There was a troll in some sort of commentator box. He was a couple of levels above me and talking into what looked like a pinecone-shaped object. It was silver like my pen-sword. Another WoM object? Something that amplified a voice?

"That rock hit the wall and TURNED! TO! DUST! Our very own Beast of Basil has made short work of yet another warrior! Once we get more ingredients to throw in, we will be ready to serve you up some more...?"

He paused and put a hand to his ear.

"SOOOUUUPPPP!"

The crowd cheered the last word for him.

Was this the 'soup' my captor had mentioned?

I was escorted down to the lowest level and went into a pathway under the crowd seating.

I hope Inu is ok. She probably couldn't get into a place like this, even if it wasn't as brightly lit as it was.

I made my way into a prison-like area. There were many cages. Some contained solo captures, other cages had groups of a single species. I got thrown into a cage with a mixture of species.

My bracelet, gold and belt were taken. I found a good hiding spot for my pen-sword in the lining of my pants. Most people would just think it's extra thick sewing.

My cellmates were all male. Two trolls, two humans, a fairy, an elf and a... lizard-man? I haven't seen one before.

The fairy was also new but I had seen one as well as a fairy panther in Lak'Tambu. I recognized the shape.

This new one looked like the lizards that pulled the carriage on the way here. He was smaller, stood upright and had a basic humanoid shape. He was about seven feet tall, including his long neck. His scales were mostly a blue color with red stripes on his back and sides. They had a shimmer to them. The underside that I could see between clothes was mostly a matte yellow.

"New meat for the soup."

"He is strange. He does not look scared at all."

"Is he, maybe. I don't, know yet. Dumb?"

The fairy seemed to talk in a weird circle.

"I'm only as dumb as you lot, for getting caught."

I spouted out.

The lizard-man did not like my tone. He stomped up to me and grabbed my throat. He lifted me at least three feet off the ground. I showed no sign of resistance. I didn't need the air.

Back in Lak'Tambu, I began testing myself in different ways to see if I had limits. I actually held my breath for five days while Mery was out on emissary business to the Faelands with a few siblings.

I smiled at the lizard with a casual look in my eyes. I was fine. He dropped me and stepped back.

"I'll hurt you for real if you try to get smart with me again. I have a good record here in the 'soup'. I can take one hit for killing a single ally."

"Sooo, what is this place?"

I began rubbing an itch in my ear with my pinky.

"I'm a bit new here."

The lizard-man sat in a corner with his arms crossed. No help from him I suppose.

The humans seem meek or disinterested. The trolls looked like gang members who talked only amongst themselves. The elf refused to look me in the eye. Lastly, The fairy was hanging from the top of the cage like a bat. Based on human looks in years, everyone here looked middle-aged.

Since I had more contact with the elves than the other non-human species. I decided to try to pick his brain.

"What is your name?"

I sat next to him on a slim bench that was provided on both sides of the cage.

"I... I uh, I'm Thool."

"I'm Lake. What brings you here?"

"Why aren't you afraid? This place is just one giant death trap. HOW CAN YOU NOT..."

The lizard-man wrapped his tail around the elf's throat. He brought the elf close to his face.

"Shut it, you shit elf."

He flung the elf to the other side of the cage with only his tail.

"Impressive strength."

I clapped a few times. He opened one eye to look at me.

"The elf has one point. Why aren't you afraid?"

All eyes in the cage were on me.

"I said I was new here. I just don't know what there is to be afraid of."

I shrugged my shoulders. Some of them facepalmed or rolled their eyes and continued to ignore me.

"Ignorance is your excuse? I don't buy it. No one smiles in the face of a lizard-man holding them up by the throat. Not even a golem. I'll tell you what's going on. Only because of the size of the balls you seem to be carrying around."

I think the trolls glanced at my crotch. I don't think they get the saying.

"I understand what you meant but, An unusual saying. If I do say so."

"Is it? I wouldn't know. I've known the saying for over 35 years or so. Do you want to hear the explanation or not?"

"My bad, please continue."

He looked at me again. Almost like he recognized the phrase from my world. I wonder.

"This place is called soup. We, the contestants or, gladiators, are the 'meat' for the soup. The trolls put the 'meat' against difficult challenges. These challenges include other 'meat', large animals and other such things. If you make It through enough rounds, You can attempt to earn your freedom by fighting the troll who is considered the best fighter in soup. As of yet, no one has been able to beat him. Also, as of yet, no lizard-man has fought him."

"How many rounds do you need to fight before you get to the champ?"

"Today will be my last round before I can fight him. If I'm lucky, I will also fight him today."

"Ooo, nice. What's your name? I'm La..."

I began to reach out my hand for a friendly handshake. He smacked my held-out hand away with his tail.

"I heard you the first time, Lake. Not that it will matter after today. I am called Wab."