Part 50.

Art led Suzuri to lay down in the room that Seth had said was okay for them to use, and Seth took the chance to inform Art of all they had learned about the revolution happening in Alefgard. The two monarchs talked long into the night about the scheme the Church of Loto had been concocting based on the information the silver-haired trio had gathered while back in Cannock. It was dangerous to be anywhere near a place where the church had any presence, but at this point, Art really didn't have much of a choice.

"You were really stupid," Alicia said to Art. "About that going to stay with the tribe thing? That never would actually work out in the long run. It could have very well cost the entire tribe their existence." She had her arms crossed in her signature style. "If you were found out."

"You were the ones who was going to blow our cover," Art snapped back at her, irritated. "I learned a lot, several of the tribesmen were friendly."

"It was your friend who told us what happened to you two," Alicia said, turning to head to bed. "Bornover." She walked out, not really wanting to talk to Art anymore. Having to fight him was really uphill sometimes, just as much as it had been with Ciresso. What was with Suzuri's significant others that couldn't stand her? She tried to think about it, but that gave way to tiredness.

Seth reached into a pocket of his and said, "Hey, take off that tribe hat. You need this." He pulled out Art's signature goggles and ear protectors. "Angelo found it when he went back to scope a second time."

"I can't wear this again," Art said, taking it from him. "It would reveal me too easily."

"I mean for Suzuri's sake, it might help with her memories that had been taken away," Seth said, sneaking out the door. "You say that the spell was to only last for around twenty-four hours, but you really don't know for sure." Seth gave a thumbs up before walking out and closing the door behind him.

Art smiled at the thought. He could have lived there in Batzoreg with the tribe, but he couldn't do it at such a price. He gripped his goggles tightly. He had warn them since he was just a kid, as they were a gift from his father. "If I really have to be back here," Art said aloud, "I'm going to have to make a decision. What problems do I tackle first?" The Dragonlord must have still rampaging in Aliahan all this time later, and he was quite sure that other Nightmares of the world's history was still around. Then there was the political battle against the Church of Loto. Somehow, he wished it could all be consolidated somehow. If there was just one true answer, life could be much, much easier.

Suzuri stirred in her sleep, murmuring incoherently. Art walked to her side switfly, putting his hand to her forehead.

"Stay asleep, Love," he said, his voice very quiet. "You need to sleep that magic off." He pulled off that Nomadic clothing he had been wearing, almost wishing he had kept his favorite Cannock Cloak. "Here, I should sleep with you. You must not be very comfortable alone, and I understand that." Art pulled back the blankets and slipped between them, placing his hands on her belly as he always found himself doing when they slept. "Love, I have come to a conclusion. Somehow, I will put a stop to the Church of Loto. We will find a way."

The very next morning, Art came to, finding everyone in their close group waiting to see if Suzuri would wake with all of her memories in tact. He was a little shocked to wake half-naked in the presence of everyone.

"Hey," Angelo said, "When's she supposed to wake up? Tara couldn't sleep at all."

"Excuse me for caring," Tara groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Alicia was the same way," Seth said, his eyes bloodshot.

Alicia stood there, her daggers on her hips and her whip ready to crack. "If she wakes with nothing in tact, you're getting lashes, Kingy."

Art rubbed his eyes. "Whenever her body believes it is time for her to wake up is when she will." It was nice to see how much everyone cared, though at the same time, he wanted just a bit of privacy at least. "Can't a man wake up without being mobbed by his family anymore?"

"Nope," Tara and Alicia said at the same time.

"How long have you been here watching us sleep, anyway?" Art asked, sitting up.

"Since before sunrise," Tara replied. "I kept Angelo up way too late with lovin's, and then I just couldn't sleep, so I came in here. Brought in a table and everything." She grinned.

"And then we decided to break out some playing cards," Alicia said. "Started playing poker."

Taro waved from his seat. He had won the most coins thus far and was looking to clear out the house to buy his sister a new sword or axe as a surprise. "Hi, I haven't said anything this entire chapter yet."

Art climbed out of bed, and then realized he didn't have any clothes here. "Well, that's wonderful, I don't have anything here, so I get to wear my underwear all day."

Alicia laughed. "Oooh, sexy."

Suzuri's voice came from underneath the covers on the bed. "Talk that way about my king, there will be reprocussions. Severe reprocussions at that," she said, sitting up.

"It sounds like she's back to normal," Tara said.

"So, dear sister," Alicia said, walking over to her. "You remember me?"

"How could I not remember you and your hellspawn powers?" Suzuri grunted, throwing a pillow up in her sister's face. "What is everyone doing in here anyway? I am not in the mood for an orgy, nor will I ever be. My whole body is stiff and I feel a bt groggy."

Art smiled with relief. "Oh, Love, we were so worried," he said, bending down into bed to kiss her. "So, so worried."

"About what?" Suzuri asked, confused.

"About you," he whispered in her ear. "Everyone missed you so much that they decided to come and whisk us away when we wanted to be in a place the furthest from them. You really should be thankful that they love you so much."

Seth then said, "By the way, if you hadn't noticed-" he pointed out the window "-there is smoke across the sky. Aliahan's continent hasn't just been turned into a desert, but whole towns are on fire." He sighed. "You're also not going to believe what Angelo found out for us just this morning."

Angelo gave a salute. "I snuck into the church here in town to see what I could find about the overall scheme, and, well, take a look at this." He put a few scrolls on the table. "This is a revival spell for monsters, and this is the location of every place that any Decendant of Zoma has been put to death by a Descendant of Loto."

Art put two and two together in his head. "The Church of Loto is... reviving in the evils..." he said. "Holy Father of Loto, that's... that's insane. Why? Why bring the Descendants of Loto into such literal danger?"

"Have you ever wondered," Suzuri said, pulling herself out of bed, "What would happen to the church if there were no longer any Descendants of Loto at all?"

Tara gasped. "Then they could just plant who they wanted where they wanted them."

"You got it," Suzuri said, stretching upward to pop her back. "And someone get me a light blue dress and brown belt, I am tired of wearing this heavy leather robe."

Alicia giggled. "That sounds like our sage all right."