At the sight of Guts, the old woman who must've been holding watch screamed.
"Wemba, behind you-" She shouted, "One of those monsters!"
Wemba looked behind him at Guts in his Berserker armor, still carrying Schierke.
"No, he's-" Wemba tried to explain, but the woman took no heed, running further into the tunnels. "-with us." He finished lamely. To Guts' confused face he explained, "We haven't seen new people in…" He drifted off as if trying to keep track of time. "... a while."
Guts just nodded in understanding and let Isidro and Puck take point, falling into step with Casca. Isidro ran ahead with Puck flying after.
"Did she actually fall asleep?" Csaca asked quietly.
"I think so." Guts answered, carefully shifting his grip on Schierke. "She must have been more tired than she let on."
"I didn't even think of the concealment spell and protection charms, she's very strong."
"Yeah."
They continued to walk further into the cave, Wemba trying to keep up with Isidro. Guts wondered how much farther they had to go, the sewers had rather low ceilings, so for most of it he'd been ducking. Casca was having none of the trouble he was having, but she did have an upset expression on her face.
"You okay?" Guts asked.
"What?" She asked, coming back to the present, "No, I'm fine." Then a moment later admitted, "I was just remembering the last time I was in a sewer."
The rescue of Griffith. Guts should've guessed, but he could never tell what was going to trigger a memory for her.
"Well… at least there are no assassins after us this time." He was not used to being the optimistic one, not that Casca ever was. Rickert always looked on the bright side; Guts hoped that flame of hope still live within him.
She smiled, although not with her eyes. Guts didn't know how to deal with this; he wasn't good at the whole touchy feely stuff, so he stayed quiet but offered her the arm not holding up Schierke, "Do you wanna hold hands?"
It took her a moment, but then she remembered and a true smile erupted on her face, she accepted his hand even if it was the metal one. Guts was disappointed that it wasn't his real hand, although even if it had been they wouldn't have felt much between the armor and bandages and gloves and calluses. Still, it was frustrating being around people even more that the boat, absolutely no alone time. Guts wasn't going to complain though. He would never.
"We'll be there soon." Wemba said, "Try to, um," He nervously glanced at Guts, "No chance you could be less…?"
"Scary?" Puck finished. "Sorry no can do, that's just his face."
"Oookay." Wemba said, visibly uncomfortable, avoiding looking at Guts.
They arrived at stone doors, solid and decidedly closed.
"Heyyy! Ith people!" Isidro yelled, "Let us in!"
"Isidro." Casca scolded.
"Uhh, Granny?" Wemba said, rapping softly on the door. "I found some, well-" Roderick stepped forward, placing a hand on Wemba's shoulder.
"Roderick, Prince of Ith has returned." Roderick announced, his voice becoming more regal. A funny thought when he carried the still unconscious form of Farnese. "I'm sorry it took me so long."
There was silence and then a voice came from a grate at the top of the doors, "...How do we know you're not lying."
"Open the door and you will see."
More silence.
"How many of you are there?"
"Ten." Roderick said, and then reconsidered, "Wait, just humans? Or-"
"Hah! So there are inhumans among you. Can't fool, Bagweatha the wise."
"For the last time Granny," Wemba said, "You can't just call yourself the wise, you have to actually be wise."
"I am wise." The woman argued back, "I've outlived at least three kings, would you not call that wise?"
"That's lucky." Serpico muttered, much to Guts' surprise; he hadn't noticed how close he'd gotten. Serpico needed a rest probably the most out of them, well beside the two that were already getting theirs.
"There are three men." Roderick started.
"Hey, I'm not a kid, count me with you." Isidro argued.
"Er, three and a half." He amended, "two women, two girls, and two fairies. Now would you please let us in."
"Two fairies you say…" The woman said, "They're good? Not evil like-"
"Yes! They are good. They can heal. We have other healers in our groups, and able fighters."
"And you claim to be the Sailing Prince of Ith?"
"He is the Sailing Prince of Ith." Wemba interrupted. "Granny I nearly died. I would be if it were for them, so royalty or not, let the people who saved my life in."
More silence and then the doors started to swing inwards. Cautiously, they entered.
Once inside the doors shut behind. Inside wasn't much different than outside, still musty and, well, a sewer. There were beds and tables set up, chests and weapons, the necessities of living. A few sheets hanging up acting as walls. And everything was dirty.
There weren't many people about in this section, but the ones that could be seen were pathetic looking. All greasy hair, and almost emaciated bodies, tired eyes and weakness in their muscles. It was almost, if not as bad as, the slum in the shadow of the Tower of Conviction.
The people turned their eyes from where they rested, seemingly unmoved by the older woman's frantic arrival, as if they had no more drive for life. They looked wearily upon Guts and the others, but mostly Guts. It made sense, He was over 6ft. carrying a young girl, and dressed in pitch black armor. Casca drew in slightly closer.
If he was remembering Albion, she must be too, and Guts had no idea what she had been subjugated to there. He trusted that the woman who had watched over her and named her Elaine did her best to protect her, but even she was just one woman. If he could've given Casca a reassuring squeeze on her hand he would've, but it was the prosthetic.
And unfortunately since he was Guts, he was still on alert. Rest time was over.
As they went along, the people started to notice Roderick. Whispers began to rise up.
"Could it be?" "He disappeared," "The sailing Prince of Ith." "But wouldn't that make him-"
At the end of the tunnel there was a room. "This is our… office." Wemba explained, "It's where we make decisions." He held the door open for Roderick and Farnese to enter, and then Isidro and Puck followed to Wemba's surprise. Serpico trudged in, dead on his feet, and Isma watched him closely ready to help him should fall. Wemba seemed to be waiting for Guts to enter, as he seemed confused that the rest of group entered. When he finally did, Casca letting go of his hand to go in first, Wemba tried to say something but stopped himself.
The room was a little crowded with all of them in it, but the only annoying part was when Guts' head kept bumping the ceiling.
Roderick had placed Farnese down, taking off his outer coat to serve as a pillow. Casca lifted Schierke from Guts' back and lay her down next to Farnese.
"They must've really used some power to warrant this." Roderick said. "It's a wonder you've stayed on your feet as much as you have." He said to Serpico.
"I'm tired, but," Serpico replied, "But I wasn't much more than a conduit, an emotional anchor. Not much of my own power was actually used."
"I see." Roderick said, his eyes lingering on the two sleeping mages.
Wemba and his grandma also entered the room, closing the door behind them. The only light came from the lantern hanging in the center over a table and Puck. Ivalera was sleeping under Schierke's hat.
"You do look like the prince." Bagweatha, taking a closer look at Roderick. She then reached out and pinched his cheek. "Strong constitution too. Good."
"If you don't mind me asking, but where is everyone?" Roderick asked.
"Everyone?"
"Everyone else?" He clarified. "Did they escape? Are there more hideouts like this one?"
The old woman grew rather morose. "I think you misunderstand the situation; the only reason we survived is because I have been prepping since I was younger than you. I only wish it had happened when I was younger so I could be more help. Luckily I have my daft grandson to help me."
"Granny." Wemba complained.
"But surely my father and brothers would've tried to- people must've escaped."
"Prince, They could've, we don't know. You've seen the bodies. Perhaps they escaped, but, we know that your oldest brother is dead."
"What? How?"
"Somehow his mistress came to be hidden here. She saw everything."
"And there is no doubt that she is lying!?"
"Shh." Casca hushed him as his voice had been increasing steadily. "Roderick, let her answer your questions."
"Glad one of you has sense in you." Bagweatha muttered. "She's sleeping at the moment, so you'll have to wait to ask her questions; she's our other runner for supplies beyond Wemba."
"If you don't mind my asking, but how many of you are there?" Casca asked. Roderick was getting too emotionally compromised, not that anyone could blame him.
"I can tell, as long as you're sure we're all aligned with humanity here." the woman said, narrowing her eyes on Guts and Puck.
Casca must've assumed she was just referring to Puck and replied, "Puck is on our side, he helped us find a healer for me. If it weren't for him I'd still be insane."
"That's all fine and good, but what about him." The old woman pointed at Guts, who had just bumped his head on the ceiling again. Anger at the ceiling must've been expressed on his face, enhancing his normal grim expression.
"Guts?" Casca asked, surprised. "What about him?" It took her a moment, "What? You think he's a- That's ridiculous!"
"Casca, it's-" Guts tried to placate.
"No, it's not fine!" she was about to say more when Wemba interrupted.
"Be him human or not, He saved my life. So did those two." He pointed at Farnese, "I think."
"Still, he doesn't look-"
"Who gives a damn how he looks!" Casa interrupted.
"Mind your tounge, Miss-"
"Casca!" Casca exclaimed angrily. The two women who before had been communicating the best were now at each other's throats.
"Perhaps some introductions are in order." Roderick said, composed enough to try and facilitate the talk. "As you all know I'm Prince Roderick. For the past year we've been on a quest to heal Casca's mind, which we've completed." He added. "After that we continued our original journey to Ith."
He looked at Isidro next, who'd been uncharacteristically quiet this whole time. For good measure, since Isma was leaning rather heavily on him, she must've been tired. Leaning in a way that her chest on him, obviously putting him into a tizzy. "Umm, I'm Isidro, and this is Isma. She's a merrow."
"A merrow?" Wemba asked, "But don't they have, ya'know," He made a motion with his hands, "Tails?"
"She does." Isidro said, "But only in water."
Moving on to Serpico who was leaning on a wall near Farnese and Schierke. "I'm Serpico. Attendant to Lady Farnese de Vandimion."
"Lady Farnese?"
Roderick took over introductions for Farnese and Schierke as Serpico's talking had taken what energy he had left.
"This is Lady Farnese, my betrothed and apprentice sorceress. And this is her teacher and witch, Schierke. They performed some very taxing magic to get us here safe."
"A witch?"
"It was incredible granny, she summoned fire and burnt one of those rat-kings to ash." Wemba said.
"And this, as you already know, is Casca, former commander of the Band of the Hawk."
Casca just glared.
"And this is-"
"I'm Guts." Guts said, finding no use in someone else speaking to him. "I fight the inhumans and I protect Casca."
Bagweatha eyed them all suspiciously, but before she could respond the door opened.
"Why didn't you wake me!" the new comer exclaimed, "The first new faces in years and nobody thinks it's important enough to wake me?"
"Pika," Wemba started.
"Oh, don't start with me. And the Sailing Prince of Ith?" She said, going pale at the sight of Roderick.
"This is Pika, the former mistress of the crown prince of Ith." Bagweatha explained. She turned to her, "You just missed introductions."
"Is my brother-" Roderick said, "Did he really-"
"Yes." She said sadly.
"Then how are you still alive?" Guts asked.
"I- I honestly don't know. I just started running. I kept running until I fell down into a pit of filth and they must've lost me. Then Wemba found me."
"What of my father, and mother?" Roderick asked, "Or-"
"I don't know, but if you've seen the palace…" From his expression she could tell, "You haven't. Don't."
Roderick's normal bravado was gone, a lost expression on his face.
"So, if his brother is dead, and the rest of his family missing…" Isidro pieced together, "Then he would be king."
"Isidro." Casca admonished softly.
Realizing what he'd said, Isidro said, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
"It's fine." Roderick said, his voice weak, "There are bigger fish to fry than my feelings, we must plan for the future."
"What future?" Bagweatha asked, "This is the end times."
"Now surely you don't believe that." Puck said, "Why survive all this time if you think it's pointless?"
"Because I've been a struggle all my life. I'm gonna die kicking and screaming."
"She would, the crazy witch." Wemba muttered, "No offence to present company."
"Boy." his grandma smacked him upside the head.
For obvious reasons Bagweatha's statement about struggling resonated with Guts.
"But if you had the chance to get out of here, would you?" Roderick persisted.
The three people of Ith all shared a look, nodding slowly in agreement.
"Then what would you say if I said we have a boat."
"I'd say," Bagweatha said, "Long live the King."