Chapter 13: Painful Truths
It was late into the sun set before Irilos and his friends left Pacalon to continue on their travels. They had been given supplies from the citizens for saving them, and all of them were let go once explaining their purpose. Arelis stretched and enjoyed the open space before him. Orison pushed his braids behind his ears and tried not to fall asleep until they got to the riverbanks ahead. Strangely it was Shania who was uncomfortable at the moment.
"You do not have to come with us Sir Rick," she stated as the centaur captain walked beside her.
He stood tall with flawless skin in the dimming light. His brown eye fixated on the path they were traveling.
"I will not allow you to travel with such a miscreant alone," He said pointing to the fox girl walking beside Irilos.
"I have a name horse butt! It's Yevana!" the woman yelled.
"Your just a thief!"
"I only tried to steal the crown! It's not that big of a deal!"
Rick and Yevana continued to argue as they walked. Arelis pulled Irilos back to him. He leaned over with a sly grin on his face, hoping no one would notice what they were going to talk about.
"So what did Yevana breasts feel like?" he whispered.
Before Irilos could answer, both noticed Shania glaring at them over her shoulder. The conversation was over in an instant. Though once Shania felt the need to quell the argument between Rick and Yevana, Arelis and Irilos laughed. It had gotten much more exhilarating now, even though a dark cloud seemed to follow them.
Meanwhile Bowie had finally gotten into a room that he had paid for at the inn. After a long day of clearing off the debris, it felt good to be able to relax. Slade was already in simple cotton black sleepwear, and leaning against the wall of the small room that was barely large enough for the two beds.
"I have been wondering though," Slade interrupted as Bowie started to remove his shirt. "What did happen between you and the princess?"
The question stopped the great hero in his movement for a moment, but Chester suddenly bursting into the room put an end to it. Both of them waited for an explanation. Bowie removed his shirt as he sighed, and continued to undress.
"The day before the wedding the princess told me that she didn't love me," he replied. "She said that she was just infatuated with the fact that I saved her."
All when silent. It was clear now why Bowie didn't like to talk about it, yet – it was unbelievable that the princess that he had put his soul, on the line to save, cared so little for him. Bowie had finally dressed in his sleepwear and sat down on the bed with eyes lost in thought.
"You should find someone else than," Chester said in hopes of lightening the murky mood. "Someone who is cheerful, caring, king, and…"
"I'm married," Bowie interrupted.
Chester paused for a moment. He turned to Slade who seemed unaffected by the comment.
"Why wasn't I invited to the wedding?" he asked.
"Me and my wife wanted it very small," Bowie replied.
"How small?"
"It was the priest, my wife and I."
Chester thought for a moment than nodded in agreement before asking for Bowie's wife's name.
"Her name is Hisena," Bowie answered.
Both Chester and Slade looked at Bowie oddly, but a yawn from Chester proved how tired they all were from the long day. The centaur left the room leaving to get some much-needed rest.
Bowie laid down on the bed and stretched out. He wanted to get some sleep and be up early the next day. Slade was deep in thought in his spot on the wood floor. Something was cringing in the back of his mind to come out, yet he didn't want to say anything at all.
"You never been like this before Slade," Bowie stated. "You can tell me what's on your mind."
"I just don't want it to end up like last time," Slade replied.
Bowie remembered far too well what Volcanon was like the first and only time he had ever needed to speak with the god personally. The one that a close friend looked so fondly of as a gracious lord had disregarded their pleads for help against the devils. It still burned in his mind.
"He helped us in the end," Bowie commented on how the god aided them in the defeat of Zeon, the King of Devils.
"Only after saying screw you I'm a god," Slade also commented on the god's angry response to the mere mention on their homeland.
"This time it will be better."
Bowie had hope that this time their meeting would go a lot smoother, yet even he, had his doubts on the well fare of the meeting.