Choose Your Own Renventure

by Persephone Jinmi

Ren, a mercenary-for-hire, is contracted by the bard Hikaru & his friend Kijima to escort them to Hikaru's betrothed, Kyoko Mogami-whom Ren knows from his own past. Their journey leads them into a bewitched forest where vampires, witches, & thieves lie in wait. Many paths lead them to the ends of this story. Which they take—and whom they love—is up to you. Choose wisely, Reader.

21. Chapter 21

It was much more difficult to maneuver an unconscious body around the tightly-spaced trees than to walk unhindered. Ren had enough after a few thousand yards and dropped Shinichi's ankle. The other two stumbled at the sudden shift in weight. A challenge burst from Yuusei's mouth.

Ren scooped snow off a branch and dumped it on Shinichi's face. The downed man convulsed, pulling inward enough that Yuusei and Hikaru were forced to drop his other extremities and he plopped in the snow.

"Unfair," Shinichi moaned, half his face buried in snow. He spat, then sat up, only swaying slightly as he rubbed at his jaw.

Ren stared at him for a moment then turned wordlessly and stalked off in the direction he hoped led to Kijima. "Brothers?" he said, tossing the question over his shoulder.

Hikaru, Shinichi, and Yuusei followed, Shinichi with his arm wrapped around Hikaru in a blend of support and choke-hold. Hikaru looked slightly pale. "Of a sort," he said.

"We used to be a band before this one ditched us for a solo career," Yuusei said, whacking Hikaru in the back of the head.

"All bards?" Ren pinched at his brow. Surrounded by bards might have sounded to some as a merry evening, endless parties, endless scores, endless accompaniments of famous deeds and derring-do. Kijima would love it. Ren felt a headache already coming on.

Shinichi bit off a laugh with a wince. "Bards," he said. "Hah! None but the pasty one. A band of brothers, robbing the rich and giving to ourselves."

"Aye!" Yuusei shouted. Snow sloughed off surrounding trees at the mighty volume. "Brothers!"

Hikaru's laugh was tinged with guilt. Ren finally made out Kijima's back, a dark prick on the road ahead. He cupped his hands to his mouth and called the sharp, piercing cry of a hawk. Kijima paused, turning with his hands on his hips. He waited, leaning against a sign post with the miles to the village emblazoned on it.

"Found some mouths to feed," Ren said, walking straight past Kijima.

Hikaru shrugged at Kijima, the movement pushing Yuusei and Shinichi's arms upward and off his shoulders. They spun, bowing at Kijima as they passed.

"Me lord," Yuusei said.

"My liege," Shinichi said.

Both winked, then spun back around, lacing their arms back over Hikaru's, a song full of innuendo bursting from Yuusei and spreading down the line of Ishibashis. Kijima barked a laugh, following in their wake.

Reader, turn to Chapter 24.