Kaelen

“How much for the mushrooms? No way, I will give you six emerald bits for that , no more.” I was pretty darn good at haggling thanks to my time with Thalion at the mid summer markets back at the compound. It was a life skill I felt I had become accustomed to and using for the good of my stomach. I happily put the mushrooms in my pack and moved back into the market, looking for Lyra in the crowded stalls. How are you so easy to lose? I swear she blended in somehow even more now that she dressed like an avenger of the night.

“Lyra!” I called out suddenly getting a tap on my back, I turned and jumped finding her inches from my face, her scarred mug looking right back at me giving a sly smile.

“Boo!” She laughed and continued deeper into the market, her gaze going from weapon stalls to the glorious mounts being sold for more than my souls worth in coin. I tried my best to keep up, eventually getting led to a tavern table and being offered a chair by her.

“Thanks.” I sat and looked at the menu, a mead sounded good to me, we ordered two and sat together, listening to the sounds of the bustling bazaar.

“Strange isn’t it, being so far from home.” I said half thinking as I sipped the sweet and nutty beverage, the notes of honey and wood dancing on my tongue. I let my eyes wander and really tried to take in this unfamiliar atmosphere. So many creatures of different races mingled in front of me, exchanging energies and words in so many different languages I almost felt dizzy. How glorious it was to witness something greater than the silence of the compound, I took another sip of my mead and looked back at Lyra, her whole self melting into her cloak and hiding her now scarred face with her drink.

“Are you doing ok?” I knew she wasn’t, but maybe I could get her to open up since we had some mead to loosen the words she was probably hiding. She took another sip, let out a sigh, and put the mug back on the table.

“I don’t know why Elyndor put my soul back together. I feel so lost.” She looked out into the bazaar, “I can feel myself getting stronger, Thalas is a gifted teacher, but I don’t feel my spirit gaining strength as my body and magik do. I never had a connect to the celestials, Kaelen, what am I supposed to do as a deformed champion for one?” She pulled the cloak hood over her face even more, she almost looked like she might cry. Almost.

I reached and hand out and took hers, “Lyra, you are the strongest bitch I have ever met. I do not speak on behalf of the celestials, they have their own bidding they do, we are just chess pieces for them. My advice is to learn about your new patron.” She looked at me, her green eyes soft, “Thank you, Kaelen, but I don’t exactly have access to a library of information about some god I had never heard of.” She let go of my hand, and took another sip of mead, “I guess we could ask around.”

At least she half-listened, better than nothing with her. I ordered a cheese tray for us both, and some more mead, might as well enjoy the spoils of a city while we were around. Thank Typhor for Lyra’s parents paying me and giving me food, I should be able to support us on our savings until Sky Haven, if all goes to plan that is.

“Hey, what exactly are the bridges between worlds?” I asked, changing the subject and shoving the cheese plate in her direction, swiping a piece of aged chimera-cheddar and some sourdough toast.

“I have only heard stories, I think if we want a clear answer we should ask Elara, she seems well traveled.” Lyra gave a slightly breathy sigh.

“Oh you have a crush on her?” I accused, my mead slightly spilling as I pointed at her. She slapped my finger and dropped the energy fast. No way she would admit any kind of feelings beyond anger to me. Not in one day.

“Drink your mead and mind your business chef”

“You two have to see what I got!” Elysia’s sing-song voice came from behind me, and by the look on Lyra’s face, I had to see what she had.

In her hands was the most wrinkly creature I had ever seen with a silver pig snout, brown bug eyes, and a tail with a perfect swirl. I let out a very loud squeal, threw my mug to the table, spilling my mead, and swept up the bullyboar in my arms.

“Oh my Typhor! What is his name! Where did you find him?” I gave him a snuggle, a pink tongue covered my cheeks in kisses as his new owner grabbed him back into her arms.

“His name is Schmig, and he is mine.” She pulled him close, supporting his round butt with her right arm. Lyra gave Schmig a pat, and offered two seats to Elysia and Elara. The mead continued to pour, and eventually we had to navigate our way back to the safehouse. Elara, luckily, had taken a vow of sobriety, and was leading us back.

*******

Once back down the somehow more steep staircase, we all piled into the common room of the basement. Thalas sat up from the couch, his past few hours spent reading some magazines Mara had dropped off.

“Oh,” I pulled a well warped baked good out of my bag, “I couldn’t find a cup cake, but a stuffed croissant?” He snatched it out of my hands.

“Thank you! Looks delicious.” I had never seen anyone inhale food so fast. Wiping crumbs from his beard he smiled, crumpled the paper, and looked at the slightly drunken group. “Did ya have some fun now?”

Elysia blushed, and put Schmig on the ground, who then waddled over to Thalas, licking his hands to say hello. Lyra plopped down on a dusty cushioned chair, and I followed suit.

“The mead was so well brewed Thalas, you missed out.” I said, throwing my hands behind my head, kicking my feet up on the table.

“Oh I am sure I will taste the sweetness of mead once again. I am glad you came back safe, I was expecting at least one of you to be missing by now, but apparently we added a member.” He scooped up Schmig and gave him a squish as he placed him on his lap. “So, two more days here. What are our plans on being prepared for the bridge? I haven’t been on one since they were almost new, so I have no idea of the state of them.”

“As I said before, it will be easy to be let out of the city. The behemoth, and the secret police only really care about people coming in from the bridges.” She took a seat, “What I have seen on my travels, and heard, is that the bridges are crumbling. The shattered lands beneath are also starting to cause issues with bandits, monsters, and many other unknown happenings. The best thing we can do is move fast, and keep ourselves as aware as possible… That means no more drinking.” She looked at the rest of the party, I hid my gaze.

“We also need to be aware that the Obsidian Sovereign will still have reach on the bridge. We need to gather intel about what they are doing between here and Sky Haven, and somehow safely sneak over enemy lines to get to the city.”

“Wait, no one said anything about having to do anything like that? How am I supposed to do anything? I am just a fucking chef!” I let my thoughts spill freely, damn my loosened tongue.

“I mean…” all the eyes were on me as I tried to explain my words, “You all are warriors of some sort, or have divine protections. I am just a chef.” I looked at my feet, “How am I supposed to help and not just drag you all down.” A tear swelled up in my eyes, I couldn’t help it. I felt useless.

“Kaelen, no.” Lyra placed a hand on my shoulder, I shrugged it away, wiping my eyes.

“Never mind, I just need some sleep, forget I said anything about it.” I got up and went into my room, locking the door behind me, and slept hard until the next dawn, pounding in my head.