Travelling
The group was back to travelling the next morning. Colm and Neimi tried to stay away from each other...they were afraid they were being spied on...again. The group was travelling along a road...(yes,a large group of people travelling quickly along a road in clear sight of villagers doesn't look wierd at all...).
They saw a town on the horizon and decided to stock up and gather information on the assassins.
In town
The group decided to split up when they got into town...they also decided that the nobles should disguise themselves with cloaks and hoods,since nobility is often a prime target for assassins.
Innes,Tana,Vanessa and Syrene went to buy food. Vanessa spotted a pastry stall,and asked her sister if she could buy a slice of cake. Syrene approved and handed her a few coins.
Joshua,Marisa,Ephraim and L'Arachel were shopping for new weapons. Joshua was eyeing a killer sword,but Marisa told him that he should have taken better care of his old sword,and that they were shopping for simple and necessary weapons. Joshua was trying desperately to persuade her to agree with him. When all else failed, he tried to kiss her. She still didn't let him buy the sword(she was handling the money...and its best that she did,because her husband's a gambler).
Saleh,Ewan,Eirika and Gilliam went shopping for magic and vulneraries. Eirika and Gilliam didn't know what magic tomes were good or not,so they left that to the sages. They decided to make it their job to buy the vulneraries.
Colm, Neimi and Rennac went to look for information on the assassins. They went to an inn...which was unfortunately filled with perverts). When Colm and Rennac were trying to "convince" the info out of a large man,the large man told them the only way he would tell them,was if he could "'be with" the "cute pink-haired girl". Colm got really angry(wouldn't you?) and held a knife up to the man's throat. Eventually, they got the information out...and while they were heading out the door, Colm looked back at the large man,who was watching them, and grabbed Neimi and gave her a show-offy,taunting...and rather disgusting kiss.
"Yeah! She's taken!" Colm said to the large man after letting Neimi go...the large man just raised an eyebrow.
The rest of the group was outside of town, waiting...they had no job to do.
A while after the weapon-shopping group was finished, Joshua ran back to buy the killer sword.Marisa caught him going back,and scolded Joshua for defying her. Joshua was looking down at his feet. Ephraim and his wife(thats so much easier to type than "L'Arachel") walked back to where Joshua and Marisa stood.
"What's holding you guys up?" Ephraim asked.
"I was just explaining to Josh that we don't have enough money for buying silly swords..." Marisa started.
Ephraim stopped listening because he saw a familiar face...or rather,familiar head of hair...exiting a magic shop.
"Kyle?!" Ephraim screamed running to the man.
"Josh,did he hear a word of what I said?" Marisa asked.
"I'm sorry. What?" Joshua said, "Joking. I wouldn't know what he heard or didn't hear."
"Hmm." The familiar man said.
"Kyle?' Ephraim screamed again.
"Ephraim...Ephraim!" Kyle said.
"What have you been up to? You know...since you mysteriously disappeared the day after my wedding?"
"Well...I have to tell you...I'm gay! I couldn't stand to see you with...her." Kyle pointed at L'Arachel...who was feeling her stomach and appeared to be thinking...maybe.
"And the honest answer is..."
"Honestly...there's someone I promised I'd live with after the war..."
"The war was a year ago...why'd you wait so long?"
"I still wanted to make sure you were safe..."
" So why'd you leave after my wedding?"
"I also wanted to make sure you didn't grow old and die alone...or...at least die without a woman..."
"So I'm guessing you've met a women...who is she? Is she here?"
"Actually...you know her...we met her in the war..."
"Natasha?Amelia?No,wait...she's a bit young. Who else is there. No one here has talked about you. Not many left..."
"Kyle? Where'd you go?" A voice shouted.
"Is that her..."
"Yeah..." Kyle said,blushing slightly.
a purple-haired girl came out of the shop,carrying an elfire tome.
"Oh. I absolutely knew you would be out here!" The girl said.
"Then why did you ask?" Ephraim asked.
The girl just looked at Ephraim.
"Lute...treat your king nice." Kyle said to the girl who stood by his side.
"No thanks..." Lute said.
Artur walked out of the shop,carrying a tome of Divine.
"Kyle,guess what! Did you know that the Elfire tome isn't based on fire...it's really based off of anger. See,the name is made of "elf" and "ire"! I read that in the back of this book." Lute said.
"Really?" Kyle whispered.
"No...I just want Ephraim to look stupid when he explains that to a sage." Lute whispered back.
"What are we talking about?" Artur asked.
"Me...being stupid." Ephraim said(clearly,he heard Lute and Kyle whispering).
--
In the group's camp outside of town
"That's terrible." Lute said.
The group was all sitting around a fire that Lute started. The group was explaining their situation to Kyle,Lute and Artur,who came to the camp to visit. Kyle had his arm around Lute(just thought I'd point that out...not important...but, I felt like mentionin' that...got it?!).
"Yeah...we're gonna help you,too." Kyle said, and Lute and Artur looked at him, "Artur...Lute...Ephraim's our king and we must help him...plus,I'm his knight and I kind of owe him for ditching him."
Lute put her head on Kyle's shoulder.
"Careful...Lute,don't get too serious right now. Ewan might spy on you!" Neimi said,staring Ewan down.
Lute just got confused.
"Oh,my gosh!" Colm screamed.
"What is it?" Innes said.
"I just remembered something that I should have said earlier...like,way earlier!' Colm said.
"If its about the assassins...I've already told them." Rennac said.
"Yeah,we're heading to their base in Za'ha woods tomorrow." Joshua said.
"You could have told me that before I wasted my mouth shouting when I could have been makin' out with Neimi." Colm said.
Every single person looked at Colm.
"...I mean, Hey...look at my strangely naked stomach..." Colm said...trying to change the subject to a better one...instead he just made it worse.
"Anyway..." Kyle started, " We're going with you to the woods."
"Are you sure?" Colm asked...a couple of people looked at him,and he covered his stomach with his arms.
"Yeah...we've got nothing to do...nowhere to go.Right,Lute...oh and Artur,too?" Kyle said.
"Sure..." Lute and Artur said in unison.
--
Ewan walked into Saleh's tent,bearing another question.
"Teacher...I have a question..." Ewan said.
"I've already explained the facts of life to you,Ewan...Don't make me say those words again..." Saleh said.
"Its not like that...or at least,I don't think." Ewan said.
"Okay...ask away."
Remember tonight...when Colm said he could have been "makin' out with Neimi"? What does that mean...and does it have anything to do with how uncomfortable with he seemed after he said it?"
"Well,Ewan..."
And as Saleh began explaining relationships and kissing to Ewan...Kyle was sparring with Colm by a lake nearby. Lute and Neimi were watching.
Kyle jabbed his spear at Colm's left. colm dodged the attack and moved behind Kyle and cut his back. Since Kyle had no armor on, the sword penetrated the clothing and skin. Kyle winced and spun around, swinging the lance at Colm. The spearhead didn't hit Colm,but the shaft did. Colm fell to the ground. He was fairly close to the edge of the lake. Kyle plunged his spear into the ground where Colm's cape was. Now Colm couldn't get up,and Kyle stood over Colm.
"If you give up now...it will save Ewan and Saleh some time. They won't have as much wounds to heal." Kyle said.
Lute was cheering her boyfriend on in the background.
"I'm not done yet." Colm said.
Colm kicked Kyle. The green paladin fell into the lake.
"Yay,Colm!" Neimi shouted,"Wooh!"
"Shut up,pinkie." Lute said.
Neimi started to cry.Colm removed the spear from his cape and walked over to Neimi.
--
Joshua was sitting at a table,flipping a coin for no reason. Gerik was sitting at the table as well. He was watching Joshua flip a coin. Things finally got interesting when Marisa walked into the tent,groaned and fell onto her cot.
"Hey...how come you and Marisa get to share a tent,and Tethys and I don't." Gerik asked.
"Because Marisa and I are smart, married and not obsessed about...some things...unlike a certain green-haired man." Joshua said.
"Yeah...we should keep an eye on Kyle...did you notice that Lute's stomach seemed...larger?" Gerik said.
"First of all...Do you ever think about anything else?! Second of all, Lute is not pregnant...and I wouldn't tell her you think she is because...you know,that might offend her...third...I meant you! You were the green-haired idiot I was talking about!" Joshua said.
"Josh...just don't bother explaining anything to him...it would make life a lot easier." Marisa said.
"So what was the matter,honey?" Joshua asked.
"Honey?!" Gerik asked, "Yeah...i'm leaving."
Gerik walked out of the tent(thank goodness).
"First of all...you're wasting our money..." Marisa said.
"Don't worry,we have a lot more money coming our way than you think. Innes owes me about 5,000. Plus,we're royalty! We have tons of money." Joshua said.
"Yeah,but not with us...and 5,000?" Marisa asked, " Anyway...Second, Tethys is just an idiot..."
"Of course she's an idiot...she's in love with Gerik." Joshua said.
"Anyway...third...well,I forget what that was...I'm still a bit drunk..." Marisa said.
"What?!" Joshua said, "Do you remember what happened to L'Arachel the last time she got drunk? We need you to not be pregnant!"
"Relax...you can handle yourself."
"Yes,but...you can't! I've seen you drunk before...not pretty..."
Marisa glared at Joshua.
"I mean...I love you!"
Again, a random and off-topic chapter. I just get strange ideas for chapter plots when I type at this time of night/morning...random Colm and Joshua moments...i get bored...sometimes... At least Lute's in it...and some action. But the next chapter will be more serious and plot based...maybe...