Chapter 28: Mystery Package

With the parcel in my hand I walked over to Dya.

She noticed my presence and waved at me endearingly. Her hair was braided into thin, long braids. She wore a white shoulderless top which revealed her bare stomach and a matching skirt.

She smelled like bubblebath and chamomile. It appears that the Temple also serves as a bathhouse.

Dya noticed that I was carrying a package with me. She looked at it, I was staring at her top in the vain hope that it was translucent.

To my disappointment it was not, but it was getting dark outside. So maybe I will have more success when we are in a more well lit environment.

Dya grabbed my free hand and placed it on her bare belly.

''Patience Heiro, when we are back at the castle.''

I groaned slightly under my breath and looked up at the mountain.

It will be a long walk up the slopes. Maybe we could spend the night here?

I looked around to see if there was a hostel in the vicinity. There was none in sight, and the tavern was not an option.

The icy look of the small man came back to my minds eye. I shuddered and looked over at the library.

The Princess took the package from me and she read the label. She was surprised by how heavy it was, even though it was not that large.

It felt like it was filled with cilinders wrapped in sealed paper. My name was on the label:

''Heironymos Nikolaeos Dolovio''

Both of us were confused by this.

The package looked a bit worn, like it had been stuffed in a locker for over a decade.

Wisdom dictates that there is a time and place for everything. And my stomach dictated that it was empty.

The sun was setting and the mothers were gathering their playing children to come back home. They were very affectionate with them and lifted them on their shoulders like little monkeys.

My mother told me that I was a little monkey as a child, and I always clung tightly to her when she carried me and my older brother around.

The moms walked over the small tightropes and planks to their homes.

When an infant was dozing off and almost let go of their mother, the mom gently lifted them back up. Waking them up, alerting them of the dangers that the water below them formed to them.

The village was almost deserted by now. And Dya hugged against me. It was getting cold and we needed to go back to Valaea and Slaido.

With my arm wrapped around Dya we walked towards the Barracks. Neither of us wanted another encounter with a bounty seeking Carapace.

My hand trailed the bare skin on the Princess's her back. I slipped my fingers under the fabric of her skirt and felt that she was wearing a new set of panties.

They had the same silklike fabric as the pair on my front pocket. Dya giggled and stroked the front of my chest pocket.

''Did you have a productive afternoon, Heiro?''

I chuckled nervously and told her that I had lost my underwear. And that the locals would not accept Dolovian money.

Dya was not surprised by this. And slipped her hand into the pocket.

''Are you sure about that? It feels like you have something else inside here.''

I frowned at her remark and allowed her to take the contents of my pocket. In her hands was her panties, still folded. And the silver coin, still unspent.

The panties looked like they had something inside of them. And when Dya unfurled them, a rain of Korees fell unto the ground.

With care I picked them up, drawing the conclusion that Sandy had put them there. I smiled at the generous gesture. It appeared that she wanted my underwear more than Dya's.

Upon closer inspection it appeared that the shells were rather worn. Some had lost their pearllike gleam. And others even had cracks in them.

Not knowing what to think of it, I gave them to Dya. She took a few of them and placed them on the ground before stomping on them with her sandal.

Five of them broke into tiny splinters, and the rest remained intact. There were now around twenty shells remaining and Dya slipped them back into my vest.

''Korees become brittle over time, and it is customary to break the old ones. It is a measure to get them out of circulation.

Although it is not illegal to have them, it is considered to be impolite to use them as currency. Old Korees are often used for black market trading.

And it makes the owner look shady.''

Not wanting the Princess to see me as a criminal, I told her that I ran into a catperson who gave me these without telling me.

Dya laughed and hugged against me. She noticed that I smelled like beer and kissed me softly.

''Well, it seems like you had a fun afternoon.

I am glad that you made some friends.''

There was light shining from the Barracks and a silloutte appeared in front of us. It was almost evening now, so it was hard to figure out who it was.

Two people appeared on large horses. The horses were both reddish brown and the people upon them were familiar:

Slaido and Valaea.

We waved at them when we were in their sight.

''Need a ride, dinner is almost ready.''