Chapter 25: Split Up in Hyboria
"Conan…Conan!"
Conan awoke to a stinging pain on the side of his face. He groaned a bit his eyes focusing on the surroundings around him until they fell on the dark face of an old familiar friend.
"Artus…" He groaned.
"Old friend where have you been!"
Artus then removed his cloak handing it to Conan, who in turn wrapped himself with it. The barbarian shivered slightly at the chill but that was due to the water he had been rescued from.
"The seer…" he muttered.
"Khalar still pursues her."
This caused Conan to let out a groan of frustration.
"Any news of him."
But Artus shook his head solemnly.
"None as of late old friend."
Conan cursed under his breath shivering slightly.
"Although we do have a couple of lovely young ladies we found adrift at sea. They kept asking about you."
The barbarian's eyes widened glancing to him as Artus spoke.
"Come to think of it they kept pestering us about some girl named Lore." Artus appeared ponderous but he was shaken out of his stupor.
"Where are the girls!" Conan bellowed.
"Below deck where the crew sleeps! We needed to find them some suitable clothing."
No sooner had Artus said that than Conan disappeared below deck to find Lotte and Romey fully dressed…more like harlots than anything else. Lotte glanced up upon hearing someone approach them but her brow eyes widened to find Conan before them.
"Thank god! We thought we lost you." She exclaimed
"I'm too stubborn to die." He replied. "Leon and Jake?"
"No sign of them…the crew surveyed the area where they found us…" Romey commented.
Again Conan cursed nearly punching a support beam in frustration.
"If they jumped in after you there is a chance they could be here in this country…where are we anyway?"
"Hyboria." Conan muttered. "You're in my world now."
There was a throbbing pain in Leon's head as he came to but his eyelids fluttered as soon as he felt a cool cloth against his forehead and a pair of familiar grey eyes staring at him.
"Thank god you both are okay." The voice was familiar too.
He groaned slightly but Jake's face came into view.
"Leon…"He whispered as he gently stroked his lover's cheek. Leon just leaned into the stroking with a groan before he glanced up to the figure with the grey eyes.
"Lore…?" he asked. She nodded.
"Don't get up to celebrate…we're prisoners of Khalar…" There was a slight tone of disgust to her voice as she said this. Leon grimaced as he sat up but immediately wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly to him.
"We thought we'd never see you again honey…" He nearly choked on his words but she hugged him back tightly.
"How do you think I felt? I passed out in a doctor's office and woke up in a monastery!"
Leon pulled away slightly to look at her. He definitely saw the physical change in Lore and opened his mouth to speak but she pressed a finger to it.
"It's Conan's…" She said with a sigh. "I found out before Khalar took me from the monastery."
"Lore this is…" Leon started.
"Inconveinient…" Jake finished.
"No shit Sherlock." She snorted. "it's bad enough I'm pregnant and in the hands of a man who probably intends to kill me if the prophecy he gets isn't what he is looking for, it even worse that I can't enjoy this experience with Conan."
Jake and Leon exchanged looks with each other.
"We jumped from the waterfall after him…" Leon muttered.
"Whoa waterfall…what waterfall…" Lore asked her eyes darting between Jake and Leon rather confused. Jake sighed glancing to her.
"Conan…Conan jumped off of Thornton Falls into swirling waters below…we have no idea what he was thinking…" He started.
"Jake jumped in after him and I followed…" Leon continued.
"If you two are here…then maybe Conan has to be somewhere in this world! He jumped in before you didn't he?"
"What's this? A quaint little reunion?"
A serpent like female voice silenced them. Lore glared turning her head to Marique as the witch entered the room with the same smirk she constantly had plastered across her blood red lips. She sauntered to the three as Lore stood to her feet.
"They are useless to us. I am going to have to dispose of them."
She raised her clawed hand but Lore reached out grasping her wrist tightly, grey eyes furious. Marique shot her a glare nearly hissing at the action.
"They are not useless. I am taking them on as my personal slaves." Lore growled. Marique cocked her head to the side jerking out of her grip.
"You don't need any. We have plenty to-"
"They are weak. I can't have weak slaves. I want strong males for my slaves. These two will suffice. I will not have your weak females tending to my needs."
The women glared hard at each other as Marique began to circle Lore.
"Are they not good enough for someone like you? Hm?" She sneered.
"You will be wise to not antagonize me witch." Lore responded her tone like ice. This angered Marique to where she nearly attacked but Lore once again grasped her wrist growling.
"I may only be a seer but if you want an accurate telling of the future you would be wise to play nice. Got it?"
Marique inhaled deeply, her nostrils flaring as she glared at Lore. She jerked away hissing.
"Fine. Have it your way."
And she departed as quietly as she had arrived. Leon and Jake both heaved a sigh of relief as they both made their way to their friend. Lore released a heavy breath nearly fainting into Jake's arms but he easily caught her grunting slightly.
"Don't…don't you dare make a joke about my weight Jake…" Lore said as she regained her footing. Leon wrapped an arm around her leading her to a bed that was provided in the luxurious room. She sat upon it sighing.
"Fucking hate being pregnant…" She muttered as she shifted to a laying position on her side. Leon just stroked her hair lightly with a sigh.
"Even if it is Conan's?" he asked. Lore sighed a bit her hand going to her belly.
"Well…no…I just…"
Jake joined Leon taking Lore's hand.
"You're scared. It's your first kid Lore."
She closed her eyes squeezing his hand with a sigh.
"Yeah…and I just…I just wish Conan was here…and that he knew…you know?"
Leon nodded.
"We know. I bet you he is here somewhere in…in…"
"Hyboria." Lore finished for him.
"Okay so that's where we are." Leon's tone was uncertain.
"One the monks at the monastery told me and two Conan spoke about it a lot." She commented. The boys just nodded.
"We have to get you out of here Lore…" Jake muttered.
"I know Jake…I know…"