Returning to Nazeen

True to her word, by the time Nayeli and Diya had explained the situation and brought the rest of the group into town, Ol' Mags was waiting with a lantern and a handful of younger villagers, who took the group's packs for them. There was some hesitancy approaching the kobolds, and they were all careful not to linger too close to the Ferruda, but the strange group was welcomed without question or complaint. Even Oro was given no more than curious looks...which, of course, pissed him off. "This is how tiny, stupid communities get wiped out, you know," he grumbled to Nayeli with arms crossed, "Happily inviting a monster into their midst for a feast..."

"Dear," she answered softly with a smile as Ol' Mags motioned for them to follow her, "I am very tired. Please don't fight the leash tonight."

He shot a hot glare at her, but her eyes remained fixed on the old woman's back, and there was no threat in her smile. The Rabbit then tossed his glare over his shoulder, at the Sha'khari trying hard to keep the smirk off her face. "Fusking princess is rubbing off on you," Oro growled, popping his neck and knuckles both, but let it go at that.

The house was small, like all the houses in the village, but relatively new, well sealed and warm. Nayeli professed her gratitude to the old lady and the younger couple offering their house for the night. As soon as the door was closed, she bounced her habit off and planted it in front of the door, blessing it to bar the way until dawn. Then they all five promptly put Oro to bed and arranged themselves around the house. All in all, their bedrolls on the wooden floor weren't much more comfortable than sleeping in the woods, but the security of four walls and a roof over their heads was a greater relief than they'd felt in a long time.

It was late the next morning before they ventured out, making their way toward the center of town to collect the tents before leaving. They found a large portion of the village gathered in the square, bearing shovels and small, decorated casks stacked in a wagon. Nayeli paused as they came into sight, but Ol' Mags spotted them approaching from the front porch of the store and waved them over. "It's alright, young lady," the old shop-keep assured her as the family approached, "We're just waiting for a couple more men to arrive. I am sorry; much as we would like to celebrate your deeds today, no one could dance sincerely with this grief still lingering. So they are going to go find that pit you told us about, and recover the remains of the deceased. The rest of the day will be spent in funerary rites."

The Lioness bowed respectfully. "Think nothing of us. My sincerest sympathies for your loss. Shall I guide them to the place?"

"That would be very kind," Ol' Mags nodded gratefully, rocking idly in her chair on the porch. "I know we are not of the Order," he added thoughtfully, "And I would not ask you to give prayer to Geroont. But if you can afford to linger, we would welcome any words a priestess may say on behalf of the departed as we send our loved ones to the gods."

"I will gladly--" Nayeli started to agree, but an audible growl behind her warned that Oro's patience was growing extremely thin at this conversation.

"I was hungry before we got here," the Rabbit reminded her with a frown, tapping an impatient foot as he crossed his arms over his chest, "And missed my chance at the fusking buffet. You wanna stay, I'm gonna add to--"

It was Sarahi that reached around to place a hand over his nose, pulling him back a step and smothering his words as well as his rising hunger with her scent. Nayeli nodded gratefully to the Sha'khari before turning back to the old woman. "...I would gladly pray for their souls. But my husband has spoken, and his needs must be my highest priority, for all our sakes. I am sorry."

Ol' Mags was giving a careful, appraising look at the scarlet Rabbit even as the Ferruda apologized, as if realizing for the first time the threat he might represent to their community. "I understand," she answered simply, then pointed to a small cart on the other side of the porch. A large roll of canvas was laid in the divot between two barrels that had been strapped down in the cart. A small donkey was tied to the corner-post beside it. "In that case, there's the tent you asked for. It's heavy, so I got you a cart and a donkey to pull it. And everything in those barrels is yours for the taking. I've never left this village, and don't know what travelers might find useful, but there's plenty of anything I thought sensible in there."

Nayeli's eyes widened. "Kindly elder, that is far too generous!"

"Not for saving us from losing more of our families, and bringing us something to pray over as we send our loved ones to the gods," the old shop-keep disagreed, rocking to her feet. Making the sign of The Authority to Nayeli once more, she said, "May your Saints be gracious to you for what you have done for us. Thank you again."

The priestess returned the respectful gesture. "May your idols keep you and yours safe...and, if it be no affront to you, may they one day be counted among our Saints. It was a pleasure."

The old woman's smile said she was anything but offended. With a final bow, Nayeli lead them around the porch and hitched the donkey to the wagon while the rest of them added their packs to the cart. Thus loaded, there was no room for anyone to ride, but they all looked forward to a more comfortable walk unburdened. They started down the road with the donkey's lead in Nayeli's hand, and Oro sitting cross-legged on its back like the grumpy hump of a tiny camel. The donkey seemed not to notice.

"Was that really necessary?" Sarahi asked the Rabbit sitting on the donkey's back, "She only asked if Nayeli would do what priestesses are known to do. It hardly merited a threat, even if you are impatient."

"Princess," Oro sneered, "I do what's necessary when something is trying to kill me. Anything else I do is what I damn well please and nothing less. To Hell with anyone that doesn't like it."

"I don't doubt I'll see it at least once," Nayeli agreed, with her ever-patient smile, "If only in a desperate attempt to drag you back out." He scowled, and Sarahi winced. "Thank you, Sarahi," the priestess changed the subject for them, "For watching him while I was talking. It is such a relief to be able to give someone the attention they deserve without always glancing over my shoulder."

The Sha'khari felt an unexpected warmth spread through her cheeks, and Oro's scowl deepened. With a disgusted sound, the Rabbit turned around and propped his feet on the wagon, laying back on the donkey's rocking shoulders, and pretended to take a nap. None of the group believed for a second he was actually asleep, especially given his unsteady position, but were content not to disturb the peace for a while.

They spent much of the day that way, walking and talking quietly among themselves, taking breaks only to eat. Kylan poured over the book of runes Nayeli had given him in the dragon's den, Nayeli and Sarahi discussed some vagueries of the Order's teachings, and Tuli seemed lost in conversation both with Diya and someone no one else could see.

"So, I'm willing to trust you know where you're going," Diya noted as the group made camp later that evening, "But do you know where this road goes? It seems like we've been traveling east all day, back into Nazeen."

Nayeli nodded understandingly as she treated the donkey to an apple before strapping a bag of feed around its nose. "Yes, we're having to backtrack a little to reach the road that leads west, into Coras. We have the time, thankfully, and a more direct route from that little village would have meant navigating woods and hills. It would be troublesome with a cart." She smiled fondly as she patted the creature's neck and it ignored everything except the grain under its nose. "She gave us a very good animal. Most are skittish of Oro, if they are not well trained. Dear, please take care not to eat him."

"I am making no promises until I get a proper meal," the Rabbit growled, leaning against the un-hitched cart Sarahi was struggling to lift the tent out of.

Getting it onto the ground and unrolling the canvas, the Sha'khari gave a low whistle. "They might have been a little too generous with this. It's plenty big to be comfy for us all, but if we lose the cart for any reason we'll have to abandon it too," she sighed, rolling the poles out into a line. "Mind giving me a hand with this?" she asked their deceptively strong husband.

"Yes," he grunted in answer, without a second thought, and emphasized his lean against the cart. Sarahi huffed in exasperation, silently berating herself for forgetting how he was, and started taking the poles one-by-one off the top of the canvas so she could stretch it out.

Tuli stopped her with a hand on her shoulder as the Ferruda seemed to draw an impossibly long inhale. "It will be fine if you don't want to put it up tonight," the busty Lioness promised with a smile, "The weather's going to be clear through tomorrow. After that, she'll keep the rain away from us, is we want."

"Whoa," Kylan blinked, immediately understanding who Tuli was referring to, "Having a Wind on the road with us is handy."

Tuli smiled broadly and nodded. So did Nayeli, but less happily. "Yes, that would be very convenient. But so long as the weather is not a danger to us, I would ask her to let sun and rain do as they will," the priestess suggested, "It's something those of us with The Voice are taught thoroughly: keep our requests small, local, and as much in accordance with natural ways as we can manage. Far-reaching things, like weather and tides and the flow of rivers, are dangerous to alter whimsically."

"With all respect," Diya argued gently, "I don't think the plants will all wither up for want of rain just one or two more days, as we pass by."

Again Nayeli nodded, smiling reassuringly at the little halfbreed's hesitance. It was the first time she had dared to question the priestess for anything but clarity, and Nayeli wanted to make it clear that was not a wrong thing to do. "That is true. And the South Wind would know far better than I what effect she might have on the land," Nayeli added with a deferential look at Tuli, "So I will leave it to you and her to decide what can safely be done. I will always be concerned for what trouble is caused to others for the sake of my conscience, but I have said my piece."

Tuli giggled. "You worry a lot about everyone but yourself," she remarked, though that was not news to any of them.

"I would be a pretty poor priestess if I did not," the Lioness agreed with an understanding nod. Sarahi cast her vote by laying the poles back on the canvas and rolling up the tent. Grik and Gaki were kind enough to help her get it back onto the cart while Oro looked disgusted with the whole lot of them and turned to take a walk up the road.

Dinner was eaten, bedrolls laid out, and the firelight replaced by starlight over their little camp when Kylan asked, "Should we go and find him?" from under his blanket, noticing Oro had not returned yet. Nayeli had already shed her habit and was crawling into her own bedroll, though, and merely shook her head at the question.

"Honest folk are not likely to be traveling at this hour, and we aren't near to any settlements we know of. This would be a night to give him his space," the priestess explained with a contented sigh as the pulled the blanket up to her chin, "A night for us all to relax. It is nice to have company on a night like this. They were lonely before."

"Heh...actually, it's been a pretty nice day all around," Diya nodded, also settling in and gazing at the stars, "It feels like we've been on the move for months already, even though it's just been a matter of days, but this is the first one that felt...comfortable. No enemies, no monsters, no dark caves...even Oro wasn't so ominous."

Across from her, Tuli giggled. "You probably shouldn't say that when he's around to hear," the Lioness winked.

"Indubitably," Sarahi nodded agreement, curled up under a large blanket next to Nayeli, "He'd spend the whole day after that scowling at you, just to make you uncomfortable again."

"Probably," Diya chuckled, "Still, it's been a refreshing day."

Nayeli smiled, closing her eyes and nodding. "Things have been intense since we came to claim you. I am pleased to say that today was a bit more typical for us. There are usually a lot of quiet days of walking and looking between missions, where the most stressful thing we will have to do is suppress Gorgorond's hunger and Oro's anger. You should be able to look forward to more of those on the way back to Corruscant."

"Well, I won't hold my breath," Sarahi sighed, closing her eyes, "But I agree that today was nice." They all quieted down after that, staring at the stars until the backs of their eyelids began to seem fascinating, and finally drifted off to sleep.

All except Diya, who was still awake when Oro finally returned to camp. "Welcome back, master," she whispered as he walked passed, headed for the cart.

The scarlet-furred Rabbit stopped in his tracks. "The fusk are you doing still awake?" he asked in a low, quiet growl.

"My legs ache, and it's keeping me up," she shrugged, sitting up to rub her thighs, "You?"

Oro snorted. "Making sure every fusking wolf in these woods can smell a bigger predator around here. Go to sleep," he ordered her like a child trying to stay up passed her bedtime, then continued to the cart and began carefully rummaging through one of the barrels.

Diya silently rolled her eyes, then pushed off her blankets and walked over to climb up on the side of the cart, watching him search. "What are you looking for?"

"Something to chew that'll last more than half a second," he grumbled, "I am fusking hungry, but there's not a conscientious soul for miles."

The little halfbreed swallowed the nerves that suddenly bundled up in her throat. "You enjoy making me anxious, don't you, master?"

"You enjoy calling me 'master' for no fusking reason, don't you?" he shot back, pulling a pouch of oiled leather out of the dark interior of the barrel. Shaking it out, it contained a little box with a bit of flint and ring of steel inside, along with some tender. Tossing the box back into the barrel, Oro leaned against the side of the cart and asked Diya, "Something you need to say?" before shoving the end of the bag between his teeth and audibly gnawing the tough leather.

She grimaced a little, wondering if that actually tasted good or if he was just that desperate to work his jaw on something. "Not really. Not yet, anyway," she shook her head, "I kind of want to, but I don't quite know what I'm trying to say yet."

"If you're trying to think of how to put it gently, don't waste your fusking time," Oro snorted, "Tact pisses me off just as much as being blunt, with very few exceptions, so just spit it out. 'S not like I expect an honest person to have anything nice to say to me."

"I'm glad you have realistic expectations," the little halfbreed sighed, shaking her head and looking down at the grass beneath the cart-wheels. "I'd like to, actually. Say something nice, that is. I'm angry for what you did to Tuli, but grateful to you for saving brother, no matter how selfish your motivations might have been. I'm kind of grateful to be taken on this journey, too, to be honest. And yes, I know that sounds weird. So...I don't know what I really want to say yet. Something like 'thank you, master,' and 'you are scum, master' at the same time, I guess."

"'Fusk you' and 'glad you noticed' right back at you," he shrugged, leaning back against the cart and turning the bag over in his teeth, "Feel better now?"

Diya blew a long exhale, then nodded. "A little. You're still terrifying, of course, so it's a relief that you don't mind it being pointed out. I don't know that I could talk to you if I had to pretend otherwise." He rolled his eyes and sneered silently, finally managing to cut a hole in the thick leather with his teeth. Clearly he wasn't using the demon's power at the moment. "Is that good at all?" Diya couldn't quite suppress her curiosity.

Giving her a dubious look, he pulled it out from between his teeth and offered her the dry end. "Want to try it?" He put it back without the least hint of surprise when she shook her head quickly. "Like fusking snow, if snow were as warm as water. I don't taste things like normal people. Only souls have flavor, and only sinful ones taste good. Lucky me, I've only found one sour one so far."

Diya took a deep breath and quashed a shudder inside herself. "Master...is it possible for you to 'chew' on a soul without actually eating it?"

"You offering to be my chew-toy?" the Rabbit sneered with a sideways look.

Diya shook her head again, nervously. "...No. But I would like to know you a little better. Someday, I'd like to trust you. I don't yet. Not really. But I can do what master tells me, I think," she declared softly, but as firmly as she could, trying to keep her nerves steady.

Oro stopped gnawing on the pouch. Giving her a hard look, he spat it on the ground. "If I did to you what I did to Tuli," he warned in a less snide and more serious tone, "It would still be kinder than letting this demon touch even one tooth to you. Trust that. No, I've never chewed a soul without biting, and never bitten a soul I didn't consume. I don't know that I can. I don't even know for certain if it's safe to be licked by me, though I can definitely taste a soul through that contact." Reaching out with one hand, he took a firm grip on her chin, pulling her face up and around to look him in his demon-gold eyes. "Tempt me again, pipsqueak, and I'll break your fusking nose. Understand?"

"Yes, master," she hissed, trying not to fight the painful grip he had on her, though she could hardly move her chin freely enough to form the words.

He let her go as soon as she acknowledged him, at least, and bent down to pick the bag back up. "Look, I don't know if it's gratitude or desperation that's making you look this hard for a way to get on my good side, and I don't care. I don't have a good side. So stop it. I told you I think you and your brother are the most sensible tag-alongs of the bunch. Don't make me take it back."

Diya nodded, rubbing the pinch out of her chin and flexing the tension out of her jaw. "I know, I know. It's just scarey being the least useful person in the group, given how much you emphasize being useful," she winced, regretting that admission a little too late to stop herself from saying it, "I don't have Sarahi's courage, or Tuli or Nayeli's forgiveness. I can't face you like that. I need to know there's something I do...or could do...to keep you from thinking of me as a target when you're angry. Something besides hiding under Nayeli's habit, that is."

The Rabbit rolled his eyes. "Suck it up," was all he offered, but then added, "And stay honest. That's the closest you'll get to something I like. For what it's worth, I'll kill the kobolds first," he shrugged after that, "If they're still living, you can breathe easy. I haven't attacked anyone for just existing since the priestess got stuck with me."

It wasn't very reassuring, but Diya knew it was the best she was likely to get from him. Blowing a long, slow exhale, she nodded, and hopped down from the cart. "Good night, then, master."

"Good night, pipsqueak," he growled, surprising her a bit, before trudging off into the dark again. Oro was nowhere near tired, and frankly would relish being attacked by some animal in the night...

He was back in camp, sleeping off his disappointment, when the dawn found them and the rest of the family began to stir and make breakfast and pack up. The morning promised to be just like the day before, full of quiet and calm as they traveled, the occasional scenery being the only excitement They found the main road which would lead them to the border, and turned down it toward Coras. They had just taken lunch and resumed traveling when Oro's ears twitched, and he started looking over his shoulder to the road behind them.

Tuli's ears perked as well. "Uh...there seem to be quite a few soldiers coming this way," she warned, "In a big hurry, too. Should we get off the road? They might not like being slowed down trying to get around us."

The Rabbit snorted. "Hey, priestess, when was the last time armed riders just passed us by for some 'higher priority'?"

"Long enough that I could not swear it has ever happened," Nayeli admitted with a sigh, "But let's not overestimate our importance. We'll make way for them, just in case," she insisted, taking the donkey's lead and guiding it and the cart into the grass.

Sarahi took her spear and shield from the cart. "Just in case," she repeated Nayeli's words at the priestess' curious look, and the Lioness nodded.

The wait was tense, but mercifully short. The first rider came into view a couple of minutes later, riding at a pace not much shy of a gallop. Rider and horse were both armored in chainmail, and a halberd was hung along the beast's side. Three more appeared behind the first, and still more could be seen behind them, some bearing standards on tall pikes. Those flags destroyed any hope that they might be ignored as the soldiers passed by: the royal crest.

"Hey, princess," Oro sneered, "Does every soldier of Nazeen recognize you on sight?"

"Not personally," Sarahi shook her head, trotting out into the road and waiting with shield and spear presented in her best imitation of her father's guards, "But there is only one Sha'khari in all the world. Anyone who knows that one is the princess will know who I am at a glance, and certainly every soldier of our army knows that."

A horn sounded as the first rider got close enough to make her out clearly, and the whole troop increased their pace. Seconds later, the little group was surrounded by soldiers, and the sharp tips of pikes and halbards. "Careful where you point those," Oro growled, leaning against the cart like he was waiting for a herder to finish driving cattle by, "If you hurt one of my wives, I'm going to eat you face-first."

Sarahi, still holding her position in the center of the road, looked a little offended. "Indeed!" she frowned, thumping the butt of her own spear on the ground, "Lower your weapons! Do you not know who you're addressing?"

"They had better," laughed a deep, rich voice that was instantly familier to the former princess...and comforting, "Or I'll dismiss them for blindness."

"Uncle Gar!" Sarahi smiled warmly as the tall, heavily armored Ferruda rode up between his standard-bearers.

He took off his helmet, so she could see the relieved smile on his face as he approached. He bore a strong resemblance to her father, though his face was harder and badged with battle-scars. "Look at you, standing there as fine as any soldier," her uncle chuckled, "It is good to see you well, my neice."

Sarahi returned the sentiment with a smile and a nod, turning to the rest of her family. "Everyone, it is my pleasure to introduce Prince Gar Swordbright, my uncle. Don't let the face fool you," she chuckled, "He's both younger and nicer than father." Her smiled waned a little as their respectful bows were inhibited by the points of the pikes that yet remained close. "Uncle, will you please remind your men of their manners? Surely we're not to be handled as outlaws?"

With a regretful look, her uncle placed his helmet back on his head, and turned his eyes to Oro. "That depends entirely on whether this one agrees to come quietly or not," he answered somberly, "I was sent to fetch you, Sarahi, and warned to expect resistance. He is not to be underestimated."

Sarahi blinked several times at that answer. "Uncle," she warned as gently as she could manage in her disappointment, "If these are all the men you brought, and not a wizard among you, then you've already underestimated him fatally. I have seen it with my own eyes. And that's to say nothing of the insult you offer an emissary of Coras, a very powerful priestess of the Order. Please, withdraw them."

"There are wizards among us," the prince warned, "And sphinx-priests as well." Her assumption that any man armed and armored was a fighter showed her inexperience, though he did not fault her for that. She was not a soldier, and had never received training as such. "You hold yourself with a fine bearing, Sarahi, but you're as green as any soldier on his first campaign. And while it delights my heart to see you standing so proudly, a soldier's post is no place for you."

Her jaw nearly fell slack. With a stern frown, Sarahi got her paws under her and paced around to stand between Nayeli and Oro and the blades trained on them, heedless of the steel sliding over her fur as she inserted herself. "Uncle, I am married now. I must stand with my new family."

Oro quirked a dubious brow at her, but shrugged. "Sure, let's head back with them," he announced, to no one's greater shock than Sarahi's, "I'd planned to wait a little longer before visiting, but it seems like the king and I have unfinished business. However," Oro added as his voice dropped in a more serious tone, "Let's be clear about who the captives are, here." The Rabbit reached out and clenched his fist around the nearest pike pointed at him, just below the head. The metal blade fell to the ground almost instantly, the shaft seemingly cut in two where Oro had squeezed it. "We'll go by the road I choose, at the pace I set, and I'll eat the first fusker that tries to run, then the friends and family of the second. Understand, prince?"

The look that passed between them could have withered crops at the root and soured milk still in the cow. For one heart-stopping second, Sarahi was certain there was about to be a battle...and despite her insistence, she was not entirely sure where her loyalties would finally rest in that conflict, and dreaded to find out. Fortunately, her uncle was not a spiteful man, and had always placed the security of his men and success of his mission before his personal pride. "Very well," the Lion growled at last, removing his hand from the hilt of his sword, "March us back to Nazeen as you will, then, if you'll agree to do so in peace."

"Sure," the Rabbit smirked, stepping forward to lay one hand on Sarahi's rump and lean on her casually, "Of course, you'll have to forgive the noise at night. I'm married to a lot of fine wives, you know. Gotta keep 'em all satisfied, or jealousy might start to fester."

Whatever shock he'd hoped to effect with that little remark was almost completely nullified by the stares he got from every last one of his gathered family (minus the kobolds). Even Nayeli looked surprised at the insinuation. Prince Gar maintained a diplomatic air. "Of course," was all he offered, gesturing for his men to withdraw their weapons at last and turn the platoon around to begin the return journey.