Chapter 65 part 2

Although, Jenn was confident that if she didn't make peace with them, something could occur where they'd come to this world and be a threat to her people in general. Though, she wouldn't be surprised if she was overthinking this whole situation. As she did feel her fatigue growing from just dealing with this situation in general.

"Yes, I am," the centaur said. "I thought I'd be able to find where I came to this strange place easily, but every tree looks so much like the other than I've forgotten where it was that I came tot his world."

Jenn nodded, completely understanding Chonyne's predicament. She recalled how she and her friends had wandered around this world and they found an area like where the gate that they'd come through to get to this world was and not all of them thought it was the same as where the gate they'd come from was. As such, she was certain that someone not used to this forest would run into the issue of getting lost being an easy feat to accomplish.

"If you'd like, I could help you find your way to the gate," Jenn offered, hoping that this would create a positive relationship with her people and the centaurs.

The centaur eyed Jenn suspiciously. "And what's the price?" she practically growled at Jenn.

"No price," she said. "I just don't like to see people lost. That's all."

The centaur reached for an arrow with her free hand and held up her bow like she was going to load and shoot it, but instead, she kept her hand at the arrow. Like she was having second thoughts, but Jenn suspected that she hadn't planned on drawing an arrow. Though, she toyed with the idea of peeking into Chonyne's mind, since she wasn't exactly an enemy and she wasn't sure if they'd be able to be allies, considering how close they were to the duchess here.

Though, she also wondered if maybe she should try to build a city above the trees in the forest. As then they'd be able to grow food throughout the year, since the weather tends to be nice even in the winter. Aside from the amount of rain that is.

Jenn pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she focused again on the centaur in front of her. Those thoughts could wait until later when she had more time to consider them and didn't have anything more pressing in front of her.

"You say there's no price, but that just means it's too expensive for me to accept," the centaur replied, turning to walk away. "If you can think of a price that I can pay, that would also be worth the effort you'd have to expend, then I might reconsider accepting."

Jenn sighed. She supposed the centaurs might have a thing similar to the phrase she'd occasionally hear from her parents that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch' or something like that. She wasn't sure precisely what it was, but she was pretty sure it applied here.

"How about this," Jenn suggested after the centaur had taken two steps, when she noticed a couple large birds that looked like the size of turkeys but looked more like quail. "Share one of your kills with us, and we can call it even."

"Are you sure?" Embris whispered in Jenn's ear. "Would it be safe for us to eat?"

Jenn hadn't actually thought that far ahead, though she doubted that it would hurt them if they ate it. Or at least no more than a chicken or turkey would.

To Embris, she replied, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Chonyne looked back at the two birds attached to something on her horse half's back. Jenn wasn't sure if she was supposed to return with a certain amount or if there was another reason she was hesitating. To Jenn it otherwise seemed like it'd be a fair trade. Especially since Jenn could easily detect how far away the gate was if she applied her magic to it. Though, she couldn't say that it'd be close by, either, given she had no idea how long Chonyne had been in this world.

After a few minutes, Chonyne sighed and detached whatever it attached to and walked over, as she slung her bow over her shoulder. When she reached Jenn, she held the bird out. "Here. Please help me find my way back."

Chonyne's voice didn't sound like she was close to tears, but Jenn had a feeling she really was. Though, Jenn didn't feel like she should press that issue. Instead, she took the bird from Chonyne's hands and handed it to one of the others in her squad.

Then without saying anything, she pulled on her magic and went through the ways to detect gates. She wasn't sure how far they'd have to go, and she was torn between hoping it was close so they'd be able to finish this quickly and far so it wouldn't be so close to where the duchess lived.

However, it wasn't close, and it was worse: the gate was about a day's travel closer to the edge of the forest. A little more than a day's travel away from the duchess' lands.

"Okay, I found the gate," Jenn told the centaur, "but we'll need to show you the way, or you'll end up getting more lost, and it'll take about a day to get there."

"Are you serious!?" one of the women in the squad called out, clearly having heard what Jenn said. "All for a lousy bird?"

Jenn turned to look the one who'd spoken. "If you want to head on back without us, feel free. I'm going to help out Chonyne here."

"How do you even understand her?" another young woman asked. "I can't understand a word she says, but I can understand what you say to her, even though she seems to understand you too How?."

Jenn smiled at that, but didn't answer the question. She didn't expect them to have followed the conversation, and would have been surprised if they had. Though, she also had a suspicion that the respect they'd shown her up to this point was likely at its end. Which meant she probably was going to be on her own with this one.

"If that's the case, give me back the bird," Jenn said, holding out her hand. "That's the payment for us showing her the way back to the gate she'd come through. So, if you're not coming with me, then I'll take it for myself."

"And who gave you the authority to make those decisions?" another challenged. "All I know is that you were sent to talk with the duchess about whatever it was that you were told to, but that doesn't mean you're the one in charge here."

Jenn sighed. She wished people wouldn't be this difficult. One reason she recalled she'd originally decided to not have any friends.

"I'm not requiring you to join me," Jenn replied, feeling like she was beating a dead horse with that sentence, even though it was the only time she'd repeated it so far. "All I'm asking for is the bird that I handed you after Chonyne gave it to me. Because if you don't come with me, then you're really not wanting the price to show her the way."

Jenn wasn't sure what she'd do if they continued to refuse. If she later returned and confronted them about it as the Blue Rose, or mentioned it to Tchisa, then she could see herself getting labeled as a 'snitch,' assuming that's something that happened on this world, which she was pretty sure there was a term, even if it wasn't 'snitch.'

Although, she supposed that she could have them reassigned to locations that were ones where they'd start floundering on their own without giving any reason for it. Which naturally they wouldn't be able to tie back to her, especially if this incident wasn't ever brought up.

"You want that bird? Have it!" the woman who pretty much started this whole issue snapped, picking up the dead bird from where it had been set and throwing it at Jenn.

While Jenn felt like she'd been getting stronger, she was nearly bowled over by the throw. She was happy that she at least didn't fall, as she was certain that wouldn't help her out any.

"So, if any of you want to join me, that's fine. Otherwise, I'll see you back at the camp after I finish here," Jenn said before she turned and started walking towards Chonyne.

Jenn hadn't taken five steps before she became aware of someone joining her. She glanced behind her to see Embris. The last person she expected to join her. Especially since she had to be wanting to see her siblings again. Which was mostly what she'd talked about. Although, on the other hand, she hardly socialized with the others and spoke almost exclusively with Jenn. Which meant she probably didn't feel very comfortable with the others, not that Jenn could complain or wonder why.

When Jenn reached Chonyne, she turned to Embris and asked quietly, "Sure you want to accompany me? I'm pretty sure you'd only have to deal with them for a couple more days or so before you'd be able to see your siblings again."

Embris merely shook her head. "I'm sure they'll be fine, and yeah, I do want to see them again, but being around those girls makes me feel like I need to bathe. They might be disciplined, but they're not the kind that I'd like to be around if I can help it."

Jenn nodded, understanding. She had a feeling that she'd need to talk with Tchisa about people like those and how to handle them. As Jenn certainly didn't want that kind of element to expand among her people. She doubted that it would turn out well if she did allow it.

"Well, it'll be nice to have you with us," Jenn said to Embris, actually happy that she had someone to talk to after she showed Chonyne to the gate. As she had become accustomed to being around others, despite the times when she felt rather uncomfortable dealing with others.

"Though, I was wondering. How does your magic work?" Embris asked. "I've heard of some strange things, but never anything like that."

Jenn couldn't help but chuckle self-consciously. She wasn't really sure how best to answer that question, but she thought she'd at least give it a try. As it wasn't like she knew the best responses to give in general anyway. Besides, Embris had shown trust in her more than any number of others in the mercenary band so far.

At least outside of those who were with her from the beginning or Tchisa. Though, in this case, it didn't count because Embris had no real reason to give her that trust outside the fact that she just naturally trusted Jenn.

"I guess the best way I can think of is that it's a side effect from me being able to look into someone's mind if I wanted to," she replied as she started to walk towards the gate with Embris and Chonyne. "That when I talk to someone my magic kind of puts what I'm meaning into their minds without either of us being consciously aware of it."

"Wait, you can look into my mind?" Embris asked, her face looking a little pale. "You mean you can see my thoughts?"

Jenn sighed. She'd hoped that part wouldn't have occurred to Embris, but since she'd already started trusting Jenn, she hoped that Embris would accept that Jenn really did restrict herself with that ability rather than peeking into anyone and everyone's thoughts whenever she felt like it.

"If I wanted to," Jenn said, hoping Embris would let her finish without interrupting in some way. "I've given myself restrictions on doing so, so I'm not looking into a friend's thoughts without their permission, as that's not the kind of thing a friend would do."

Jenn felt like she was walking on the tips of nails as she waited for Embris' response. That Embris could go either way, despite the trust she'd already shown in Jenn. Even thought it had been mere moments since she'd ended her statement, and assurance, she could already feel herself dreading Embris' rejection of her. Simply because of her ability to do that.

"Well, if you keep to that, I guess I don't mind it," Embris replied, not giving Jenn any indication of how close her decision was. Which Jenn was fine with. Even if it had been a close call, As it didn't really matter how close it was, as long as she accepted Jenn.

Besides, it wasn't like she took pains to hide that ability. Otherwise she'd have come up with some other theory about how her magic worked. A way that didn't include her ability to hear other's thoughts and look into their memories.

Jenn sighed, pushing those thoughts out of her mind. Embris had accepted her and she knew she shouldn't ruminate on what could have been in this instance. As things had worked out and it wasn't like she'd made a mistake or done anything wrong.

"This place would be a lot better if there was more animals around here," Chonyne commented, startling Jenn. With how quiet the centaur had been, she'd started to think that she wasn't going to say anything at all.

"Yeah, I think most animals don't like being in here because of the Lost," Jenn replied thoughtfully. "I'm not sure, but I think there are some around, otherwise there wouldn't be much vegetation other than the trees."

Chonyne nodded. "True, but not enough to hunt. Which makes this a poor place for me," she said, but then paused and even stopped walking as she turned and looked at Jenn and Embris, looking like she was evaluating something. Something Jenn wasn't sure she was going to like learning what it was.

"What is it?" Jenn asked, unsure if there was a problem she wasn't aware of.

"Both of you are slow," Chonyne answered bluntly. "How far is the gate?"

Jenn shrugged. "About a day's walk," she answered, not seeing what that had to do with anything. Though, she was getting a feeling that she wasn't going to like where this was going.

Chonyne looked back in the direction they had been walking and sighed. Like she didn't like what she was going to suggest either. Then she turned back to Jenn and Embris. "I need to return as soon as possible, so if you're going to slow me down, I'll need to find a way to help you go faster."

Jenn nodded. That made sense, though she wasn't sure she followed about how Chonyne was going to make them faster.

"What's she saying?" Embris whispered, looking a little put out from being kept out of the loop.

Jenn glanced at her and sighed herself. "She's saying that we'll need to move faster because she'd in kind of a hurry."

"And what's she-" Embris started to ask when Chonyne interrupted her.

"So, if you and your friend will climb on my back, we can go faster. Since you look like you'd be able to do that without trouble," she said, confirming to Jenn that she wasn't going to like it.

Partly because she wasn't sure how she'd hold on, unless Embris was in front of her, and she didn't feel like that was something she should suggest. Not when Embris wouldn't then have anything to hold on to.

Chonyne lowered herself to her knees, and it looked like it hurt her, given the plants and dirt on the ground, not to mention how Jenn doubted she was used to taking such a position.

"Hurry up and get on," she growled through gritted teeth.

Jenn nodded and took Embris' hand, pulling her along, as she walked over to be next to Chonyne and then climbed onto her back, not wanting to debate the issue with her clearly making it easier to climb onto her back. Which Jenn hoped that Chonyne appreciated, even though she wouldn't likely say anything about it.

While Jenn didn't say anything to Embris about climbing onto her back, she at least was good at picking up on cues as she was already climbing onto Chonyne's back directly behind Jenn.

Then as the centaur stood back up, Jenn felt herself nearly lose her balance and fall off. She was able to keep from doing that by instinctively grabbing a hold of Chonyne's side, though once she had her balance again, she quickly let go.

"Here," Chonyne said impatiently. She then reached behind her, grabbed Jenn's hands and wrapped them around her torso. Jenn wouldn't have had much objection to it, but one of her hands was placed on Chonyne's breast that didn't have her quiver strap going across. Which gave her the complete feeling of the softness from the breast.

Jenn wanted to move her hand, but was afraid to since Chonyne had put it there. She also couldn't be sure that the centaur's viewed breasts as the same as Charlie did, nor could she be sure what Chonyne's reaction would be if she moved her hand off that softness. Plus, the fact that she could feel Embris' body against her back didn't help matters. Though, Embris at least did only have her hands around Jenn's waist, rather than her chest.

"Let me know if I'm getting off the path," Chonyne said as she started to trot, jostling Jenn and Embris, making the entire ride rather bumpy for them.

Not that Jenn saw a reason to complain about that. She was still preoccupied with the softness in her hand. She forced her hand to remain still, otherwise she was confident that she'd squeeze it and she felt that would be a betrayal to Alex.

While she had half expected Chonyne to gallop the entire way, she did have to admit that they were making better time than they would have if she and Embris had just continued walking as they had been. Though, Chonyne didn't bother with the road, which told Jenn that she probably meant if she started to move away from heading to the gate as 'the path' that she mentioned.

Even though Jenn felt rather uneasy about her position, she was surprised when she found that she'd relaxed. She wasn't sure when that was as they travelled, but couldn't deny that she had done so.