Before I begin/end?
So, here's the final wrap up. There might be a few chapters of this, but other than that, this is the last step before I jump to DxD.
There is going to be some minor fast forwarding, since, while I'm sure I could write it, it would be needless stretching of the story.
Anyhow. :)
Chapter 74, In Blood and glory arc.
Aisha was humming a quiet tune while she drove us back home. For someone who just had been put on the spot, she was being rather smug about it. That isn't to say we three didn't all have fun. A lot of fun. But like everything else, Aisha had just taken it all (ahem) in stride and didn't seem to need to ponder about it.
Haruhime and I however, were exhausted. Even if I was some kind of super powered fox girl, I had my limits. Haruhime was asleep in my arms, with me sitting on the waggon bed, and her in my lap to cushion the various bumps in the road.
"So Fox." Aisha said quietly, looking back at me. In the fading light of sunset, her face still had that smug looking grin on it. "Do you think it worked?"
"If it didn't, I have enough to try again. But..." Logically, I knew exactly what went on, but emotionally, I could feel a little... something. "Considering I'm still *cough*... I'm going to need to change my boxers again when we get home."
"No kidding. Let's hear it for Amazons!" She cheered quietly, "We don't do things in halves."
"Ha! No, I suppose you don't. Would even say you do doubles."
*snerk* "Cheeky."
We were silent for a short while, the tower of Babel still the only sign we were going the right way.
"Hey." Aisha started again.
"Hm?"
"I'm glad you went so far for her."
"You saw how far she went for me. Why wouldn't I do the same?"
"Not what I meant... There was a point where she was kind of... hesitant. She loves you, but she knew she might one day have to turn away." A pause, "I told her to trust you."
"I'd kiss you, but you're over there." I chuckled, "Thank you."
"You're a girl who finds how to get what she wants. Haven't seen you fail yet. I mean, not totally..." She met my eyes with one of hers, "And you already did. Are you sure you want more?"
"Maybe when her and I can feel our legs again..."
"Suit yourself Fox."
"And so." I said quietly, Haruhime still in my arms, and Aisha opening the door of the Hearth Manor, "I carry my wife over the threshold."
Aisha chuckled, giving me a gentle punch in the shoulder, then a kiss on the forehead. Bending down, she treated Haruhime to the same kiss, then turned, "I'll be around if you need me. I should probably clean myself up too."
"Thanks again, Aisha." I said, "you're welcome any time. Just remember..."
"Survive my year. No worries." I watched her walk away, stopping by Gros's cage to wave to him, then walking through the gate.
"Wow..." Ouka said, "You look terrible." He shook his head as I turned back around, "I mean, really tired."
"Probably because I am." I chuckled, "Any dinner left?"
From that night, it took another week before the dungeon was open again. During that time, not much had really changed. Haruhime and I returned to sitting next to each other at the table. We got our room back all to ourselves. It was like we just came back from a shopping trip or something. Not that I expected much to change. And honestly, I was glad we were treated no differently.
The only exception however, aside from a few extra naughty jokes from Lilly, was Lady Hestia. The day we got the message from Eina, who looked very tired, but pleased none the less, that the dungeon was opening again, Hestia pulled me aside after dinner.
"You all seem very excited to get back into the dungeon." She started, looking back at the dinner table where most everyone was talking about preparations. "I..." She blushed, "I have to talk to you."
As we walked down the hall, then up the stairs towards the living quarters, Her face just kept getting redder. Curious, with my tails perching on Her shoulder and around Her hip, I stayed silent until we were in Her room.
Then She locked the door.
"Lady Hestia?" She never locked the door.
What followed was kind of hard to describe. She started talking, Her face flushed, body shaking, words tumbling over each other so badly, I had to get Her to stop several times. Eventually, I had enough of an idea of what She was trying to say.
"So..." I was holding Her hand, as I sat in the Chair (3.0) facing Her as She sat cross legged on the bed. "You felt what was going on, and that feeling won't go away?" She nodded. I could almost see steam coming off Her head. "And you don't know what to do about it?" Again a nod. "Can't sleep properly, can't look at Bell, and people accidentally touching you makes you go numb?" Another nod.
Can a Goddess who is thousands of years old have a big sister?
"Okay..." I started, "You're going to deny this, but, I'm pretty sure I know exactly what's going on." She looked hopeful, but didn't reply. "You say you feel some of what happens to us, right? Extreme emotions and the like, right?" She nodded, "And when Ha-chan and I went out for three days, you started feeling like this?"
"Yes..." She finally said, "I mean... I sometimes... Kind of feel something when you two are home at night too..."
Yup. I knew. Oh boy...
"Well... Let me try and explain, but, I warn you, if you faint, I'm going to put you under cold water until I finish explaining."
"Ko-san?" Haruhime looked at me as I entered our bedroom. "You look troubled."
"I hope, my love, you can forgive me, but, I just had to teach Lady Hestia how to m..."
Even with Haruhime and I most likely being pregnant, the next three weeks saw us in the dungeon daily. Nothing too serious, but we stayed around the eighteenth, helping rebuild when we weren't heading down just a little further. We were getting quite adept at killing the mid level monsters, like those huge beetles. Even the sword-like dragonflies were proving to be almost no problem for us. With all the excitement with the Xenos, we had to recover our house funds. I personally was pretty much broke. With the wedding, even at a discount, the Hostess catering wasn't cheap.
It was around the start of the fifth week after the wedding, just around lunch time, as we ate around a small campfire on the eighteenth, I knew for sure. Mostly because I had to stop eating, and quickly dash over behind a tree to vomit. In the back of my mind, I thought this was a shame, as Mikoto had made cloud fruit with rice again.
"Well..." I said, returning and accepting an offered canteen, "Looks like I'll be heading topside."
"Hm." Mikoto said, smiling, "Hime-chan will be pleased."
"Well, since she started doing that yesterday... Now she'll have a companion again." Asuka said, "Misery loves company? Was that how you said it, Kodori?"
"Yes, but I think we'll hardly be miserable."
"True enough. I mean, the little Fox was glowing, even before she rinsed her mouth out." Welf said. "More time in the forge for you then." He grinned at me, accepting my punch on the shoulder stoically.
"Lilly wonders..." A pause, "Will they have long tails too?"
"At first? I hope not... I mean..." I looked back, my tails weaving around slowly, "I would trip on these if they were any longer... Could you imagine some one even shorter than Lilly with a tail like this?"
"Lilly would never be cold!"
We all laughed, then Marius spoke up, "I wonder if you'll be able to come to Rakia, when I return."
"You still have half a year." I said, "I'm sure a few of us will want to visit, considering Lord Takemikazuchi will need to be there to transfer you back to Ares."
"Hm, I'm not opposed to a little travel." Mikoto said.
"I could visit the old man." Welf said. "And my dad I suppose..."
"Well someone has to stay and mind the house... And the guests..." Ouka said.
"I'll stay too, but, only if you bring back something?" Chigusa said quietly.
"We've also got to put together some things... Can't have you returning in that collection of scrap that your armour is right now." I said, "Still have to replace your shield. And try and help your alchemy division, and..."
"Kodori is planing again!" Lilly said.
"It's after the wedding. It's okay now." Bell said with a grin.
"Well, my next plan for the day, is heading back up. I'm sure that if I stayed, I'd be grounded until it was over." I sighed, "Hm, I'll have to talk to Naaza too."
The 'talk' with Naaza got me a frown, and a sigh. One big problem with having an unbreakable grip, is that sometimes, I didn't mean to grip something. Haruhime and I needed to get creative on our honeymoon, just so we didn't hurt ourselves. I'm sure trying to give birth would be even more tricky. It was best to find the right kind of surgeon before we found out I needed one.
On the up side however, there was something I could make for morning sickness.
During the next month, I stayed out of the dungeon, taking over all but the weapon related tasks for Welf, trying hard to keep up with potion demand, giving (and getting) lots of back and belly rubs to/from Haruhime, and visiting people who I figured needed visiting. I also started really learning Eastern. Since I had all kinds of time with a willing teacher.
The Lamia was one such person. She had four healthy, highly active, VERY curious, and pretty friendly kids now. All the eggs had hatched with no difficulty, and they were like any other young child. I mean, they had a long snake tail, twice as long as their upper body, but aside from that.
The Xenos had been using the storehouse on the artisan quarter. As I had requested, they had brought up and left the various cages there for us. And with my massive amounts of free time, I was hard at work making things out of it. Welf was impressed that I'd managed to get the hang of adamant so quickly, but he was still just... better at it than I was.
However... It was at the end of that month, just before the full moon, where we had our first... complication.
It was just before lunch when Haruhime stumbled into the workshop. I had just enough time to put down the mortar and pestle I was working with so I could catch her.
"Ha-chan?" She was a little warm to the touch, but she always felt a little warmer than me, so that was normal. No sweating, skin looked normal.
"I feel it." She gasped, panting and hugging my arm tightly. "Like the first time."
Thankful that everyone else was down in the dungeon, I half lay her on the floor, supporting her back with one arm, and felt around just below her belly button, "Wait... But it was only supposed to be once..."
With the sudden hitch in her breath, and the feeling under my fingertips, it apparently wasn't. Making sure I wouldn't set anything on fire if I left it alone, I carried Haruhime back to our room. Again, thankfully, there was no one to ask questions on the way there. Then, door closed, Haruhime put down on the bed, I got her mostly undressed.
"Huh." I said, staring, "It did come back."
"But why?" She asked, "I feel... just like the first time... I know it's early, but, please?"
"My love is so spoiled." I said, "Just once, then I'll see if the book has anything to say about it."
The book did indeed have something to say about it. When I had found exactly what I was looking for, I didn't question it. I simply started translating. The instructions AFTER the translation were more like 'author's notes', not the actual instructions. The page before that, where I hadn't looked, had the real ones. More clinical, much like the ingredients.
"Well..." I turned to Haruhime, who was still laying on her back, though her temporary 'addition' had withdrawn into her body for the moment, "I have good news... And... umm... Just news?"
"Oh?" She asked lazily, "Is something wrong? Will it..."
"No, it shouldn't have an effect on us past what's already happened." I assured her, "The potions we drank, well... They were meant for two people each. Basically, we took a double dose, and... I think this might be a side effect."
"Then... What's the good news?"
"If this is permanent, we can have more kids if we wanted to?" I scratched my head, putting a hand on my just slightly swollen belly, "I mean..."
"heehee. I suppose... But what will I do for the next two days? And the rest of today? I mean..." It seemed her 'addition' knew we were talking about it, and it decided to stop hiding.
"Well... It's not like I can get any more pregnant than I already am?"
Month three, with the two of us slowly showing more. Since we were 'grounded' from actual combat, the two of us instead sparred with Takemikazuchi. While He only had a normal mortal's strength, He had so much to teach when it came to bare handed combat. If I couldn't go into the dungeon, I would gather strength any other way I could.
Haruhime also took her lessons VERY seriously. She actually spent almost double the time or even more learning from Him. That, and playing with the orphans. They were all excited about a new little brother or sister.
I myself was busy in the forge most days. I was determined to get better at the crafts I knew. It wasn't so much I wanted to outdo Welf. But I wanted to remain part of the team, even if I couldn't join them. I also had several promises to keep, and had several half finished armour projects in the 'big projects' room, just waiting for me to finish the pieces. Armour wasn't the only thing I was learning. I found that my fur wouldn't mix with it. This would make enchanting a little harder, since I always depended on enchanting the base metal.
And it was the full moon of THAT month, where the potion's effects happened to me again. Haruhime was her usual self, and just as understanding as I was about it all. I was also pretty much useless for the full moon, locking myself in my room to have either Haruhime tend to me, or me to take care of myself. Thankfully, I had soundproofing set up around the room, and not even Lilly made fun of me when I finally came out of seclusion for dinner on the third day. I gave her a hug for that kindness.
We also commissioned an artist, to draw a small picture of Haruhime and I. Much like the picture of Miyuki, we sat together, shoulder to shoulder, both hands on our lower abdomen. I'm sure the letter Haruhime wrote would raise a few eyebrows when it arrived.
Month four. With the help of Fels for the idea, and Welf for the implementation, we figured out how I could use Ko-steel to enchant adamant. The best example would be for Marius's new armour. Etching grooves into the adamant, then filling them with enchanted Ko-steel, I laced his new Lorica Segmentata with a sort of anti magic. Much like how I could ground out or even redirect Bell's firebolt, if it worked, it would allow Marius to defend against the one thing that could get past the armour normally. It wasn't a question about the adamant surviving, but the person under it.
"Are you sure this will work?" He asked, as Welf and I helped him strap into the new armour. "I mean... Oh, little tighter there, yes thank you. I mean, I trust your skills completely. But..."
"Don't worry." Welf chuckled, "Bell has a good handle on his magic, and since sister here is pretty much making potions all day..."
"I even have really good hair grow cream." I added, "Any problems?"
Marius did some simple flexing, pretend sword swinging, and a few torso twists. Aside from a little creaking from some of the leather, and a couple quiet rattles from the shoulder plates and tassets on his thighs, it sounded good. "No pinching, no real restriction. It's heavy though..." He did a couple small jumps in place, and I could feel the 'thump thump' of his landing through the bottoms of my feet.
"You're level three now, you can manage." Welf gave the centre plate a tap with his knuckles, "Oh, the other reason this is a 'live' test, is... Well, Enchanted or not, it's still magic. It needs some 'will' behind it. Or it's just fancy metal."
Marius hm'ed, then plunked his new helmet on, tightening the chin strap with a practised motion, "It does look good."
"I'll go make sure Bell is set. You help him with the shield." Welf said, heading out.
"I really can't thank you enough Ma'am." Marius said, holding out his arm, the massive tower shield loosely strapped onto it.
I was very much a 'function over form' person, much like Welf. But, I had to admit, the new shield looked good. Since we were out of drake scale, I had gouged out a scale pattern, and filled it with Ko-steel. So now it only looked like it had drake skin over the front. But, if this worked, it would protect him far better. Deep purple with black scales, two bracing studs on the bottom, a crest in the middle to break things like giant stone clubs, and probably thick enough stop some one like Ottar. Maybe.
"All set?" I asked, stepping back and putting a hand on my belly, as was my new habit when I wasn't doing anything else with my hands. I was also ignoring his comment. Not because I was being impolite, but because nearly a year ago, I took him in, and promised to sent him back prepared to rule.
"Yes." He smiled, "Like I could take on all of Rakia, whether they wanted me to or not."
"Good. Now go stand in front of Bell and think 'this won't hurt me' thoughts."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Month five, and with the (eventual... Poor Marius) success of the new adamant armour enchanting, I started to branch out and add that same sort of enchantment to the Xenos armour, as well as parts of our Alliance armour. I was just finishing up a new bracer for Bell, when I felt it.
It was weak, but I was sure it could be no other thing. I'd just been kicked. Later Haruhime knew why I was grinning like an idiot at dinner that night, but we simply held each others tails and didn't comment about it.
Bell especially, but everyone else too, had been training extra hard. Dungeon expeditions were extending to several days at a time. And Haruhime actually started to help me nearly full time in the workshop. The Xenos were slowly (very very) slowly becoming known in the dungeon too. At my suggestion, as well as Ganesha's and even Royman, we encouraged the Xenos to occasionally help adventurers who were in trouble. But, never to stay for a thank you. Simply show up, allow the fit to help the fallen, then leave again. Slowly, they were starting to become known.
Gros had gotten several more shipments of sand by this point, and was looking almost glossy on some days. He had asked (yes! Grumpy Gros, asked!) Takemikazuchi if he could join the orphans (and Wiene) in their lessons. Learning about the world, reading, writing (though for him it was 'etching' as he couldn't hold anything but a really BIG pencil or brush) and numbers. The kids were thrilled they could learn with the big gargoyle.
Weine had actually grown a little. Just a little. Like maybe a few centimetres. I only noticed it when I saw that her robe didn't quite fit exactly right. Chime also grew a little, though for her, once palm sized, was now hand sized. Almost doubling. Still very fluffy, with no reduction in table manners.
I also visited Syr and her little batch of orphans. Spot, the hell hound puppy, had ALSO doubled in size. But, aside from being almost to my hip at the shoulder, he was just as friendly, gentle and aware of his size and strength. One of the orphans, the little elf girl, was holding his leash, but it looked like it was more a formality than anything else. Spot was also curious about my swollen belly, and even put an ear to it.
The Lamia and her brood were doing well too. The four kids were looking like six or seven years old now, and excitedly told me all the things they were learning and doing. Apparently Ganesha was bringing in 'people in the know' and having the five of them schooled like normal city kids.
Month six. Neither Harhime and I had another 'occurrence' on the last full moon. It looked like the effects were random on that count.
Marius was going back near the end of the month, so we were all scrambling and pulling in ideas on how to help him when he returned. We were restricted by the Guild on simply sending magic stones. Certainly banned from sneaking a Xenos along, though, we considered doing that anyhow. The harpy and siren could certainly pass for human, more or less.
But, we had all kinds of processed magic stone goods we could send along, but instead, we opted for medicine. Naaza and I put our heads together, along with Daphne and Cassandra, and thought up all the different medicines we could make without dungeon specific materials. Marius also suggested anything to do with farming would also be helpful, since occasionally crops would fail.
In the end, we had a small caravan. Four wagons total, two for 'living' which we made ourselves, and two for 'gifts'. If we worked on rotation, we'd have four people driving, four people resting. Even Haruhime and I, about two thirds of the way to term, would occasionally be driving, but since we had made the 'living' wagons, they had much more comfortable seats.
"So... Lord Takemikazuchi, Marius, Haruhime and I, Mikoto, Asuka, Welf and Lilly." There were some nods, "This leaves a dungeon team of Bell, Ouka, Chigusa and if Wiene really wants to..."
"And I'll take care of the orphans while you're away Take'." Hestia said with a smile, "I think I've got all your notes in order... And if they are a problem, Gros can bury them in the sand."
"And I can cook!" Wiene said proudly, "Well... So long as I have some one to help."
"Aisha and Ryuu will make the occasional visit, and I've encouraged Lady Astraea to do so as well." I said, giving Hestia a hug, my tails sweeping around Wiene to get her to join in. "Last check. Do we have everything? Bell? Have all the weapons you'll need, just in case?"
"Armour too." He said with a thumbs up.
"We have lots of potions too. And other tools." Chigusa said, "The Hime's have been busy in the workshop."
Yes, that was our new nick name, when the two of us were together. I tried not to wince the first time I heard it, but it had grown on me a little.
"All the shopping is done, the house has been cleaned, and nothing that can't wait a month needs to be looked at." Ouka said. "And Gros has all the sand he needs."
"Such nice sand." Gros mumbled from his enclosure.
"I've double checked everything on the wagons." Marius said, "Horses too. Aside from looking very bored, they all have proper shoes, blankets, brushes, and feed."
"Have a safe trip everyone!" Wiene said with a wave, as we all got mounted up and started the horses moving. Bell got ahead of us, and opened the main gate, and with that, we all headed towards the west gate, and Rakia.
The last time I'd been this way, was to try and save Hestia, after getting captured by Rakia soldiers and Ares Himself. That had not been a really fun trip, filled with mud, rain, dodging arrows and getting stabbed a few times.
Much more relaxed, the horses trundled along steadily, heading towards the same mountain I'd fought Hyakinthos on.
"We can't take the same way towards the pass the soldiers did." Marius explained over his shoulder over the first 'cargo' wagon, "Too narrow for the wagons. But it's only a little detour overall. And so long as we are careful, there should be no issues."
"Bah, we've got tools, we can probably clear any path we want." Welf, walking beside the first and second wagon, said, "I mean... if we weren't under a little bit of a time limit." He looked at me, "We could just make a new pass."
"Sure, but I'd like to get home before next year." Marius said. "I have heard no word from home since I left. At all. So I have no idea how things are."
"None at all?" I asked, getting a shake of the head, "I agree then, we should take the best path. No digging." I looked to Welf, who chuckled and shrugged.
Marius was right. We were able to take a slightly wider path, that was a little north of where I had sat in the rain that night at the bottom of the cliff. It still lead to the same pass, where Bell and Ais had ambushed the Rakia soldiers and saved Hestia. It was nearly nightfall by the time we'd gotten there though, since the horses were just normal everyday ones, and not superhuman adventurers running like the hounds of Tindalos were behind them.
Probably for the best, those would be some scary horses.
"I kind of miss travelling." Takemikazuchi said, making friends with one of the horses as we unhitched them for the night. "I do not however, miss the sore rear from sitting so long."
"I packed just the thing." I said, rubbing my own rear a little to get the feeling back. There was only so much careful crafting could do when you were carrying a little extra. "Any problems?" I asked everyone, "Aside from a sore rear."
A bunch of shaken heads, "Well, it's my turn to cook." Marius said, "So that might be a problem, if no one helps."
"I'll help, Mr. Marius." Haruhime said.
"Lilly too!"
The travelling was more of the same from there for almost a week. It was a little boring, though we had thought to bring a couple of books and the like for amusement. The landscape wasn't all that interesting either, though I could appreciate the raw nature of the place. Rolling mountains that tumbled into rugged foothills, with open plains in the distance. Very majestic, yet, something seemed missing.
"Ko-san?" Haruhime interrupted my window gazing as we both sat inside the first 'living' wagon. "You seemed troubled."
"All this empty space. But hardly any animals." I said. "I mean... A horse way over there... A few birds... I just expected... more?"
"Ko-san is used to the dungeon. Small place with lots of life." She smiled, taking my hand, "Speaking of that..."
I put my hands on her belly, feeling a little swell of pride as my hands touched her warm skin. "Oh... Very active it... Oh wait..." I put my hand on the knot of her kimono, and she helped me uncover her a little, exposing her belly. Again I felt with my hands, and watched as the smooth taunt skin bulged out ever so slightly in more than one place. "Oh...Oh!"
"Yes... At least two... But I think maybe one more?" Haruhime said, patting my head as I leaned down and nuzzled the side of my head against her, "What about Ko'san?"
"I... Honestly haven't tried to count? But if you'd like to help?" I smiled.
"Only if you're dressed in an hour." We heard Asuka as she peeked her head through the small door at the driver's seat, "It's almost time to switch."
As our trip neared the end of the second week, just like before the wedding the reality of my situation was sinking in again. Gentle pokes and rubs allowed us to guess that the both of us were carrying three. Each. Everyone in the caravan took the news with a smile, Lilly even made a joke about not being the shortest, at least for a little while. Takemikazuchi, though smiling, said He would take care of them, if it came to that. But He would rather not have to.
"How much further?" I asked, my rear slowly getting its feeling back after the last shift of the day.
"Technically, we are in Rakia now." Marius said, stirring the big soup pot as it hung over the fire. "I mean... So far as anyone cares. With Orario not really a nation, and Melen the port town so close to Orario..."
I thought about it, and shrugged, "I suppose Orario doesn't really have a 'lord' or 'sovereign'."
"Most nations, like Rakia, simply understand that, if you can see Babel, you are on Orario's land." Marius explained.
"I've been curious." Takemikazuchi started, "While I appreciate a quiet trip, the lands are rather... lifeless."
"Lilly has noticed too!"
Most of us nodded, though Marius and Welf sighed, "Rakia isn't run very well." Welf stated, "I mean, no offence to our prince here, but his father is an idiot."
"He is." Marius agreed.
"So the land is over hunted. The huge army is constantly sent out to kill monsters that pretty much don't exist. And the land out this far is no good for farming. Most of the land is like that. Crops failed often, and the people wouldn't... really... starve, but close." Welf grumbled, "Unless you are in the military, there is no guarantee you'll have food on the table year round."
"Well, when you become king, Marius, you'll know how to fix that." I said, giving him a light punch in the shoulder, "Even if you still can't make an interesting stew to save your life."
"He is getting better." Mikoto said accepting a bowl.
"Small steps." Haruhime said, "Perhaps when you plant some of the other things, Rakia can improve its cooking?"
"Lilly hopes so." Our supporter said, "But Miss Mikoto is right. This is a bit better."
Being given the entire night to sleep, meant I had first shift in the driver's seat in the morning. After a quick breakfast, mostly left over stew with a little extra added in from our dried meat stores, our last watch, Takemikazuchi and Welf, went for a nap, and the rest of us got the wagons underway.
"Lady Kodori's tummy sounds funny." Lilly said as she rested her head on me.
"You hear that?" I said to myself, "That's Lilly. She's the perfect size to nibble on when you start growing teeth." I ruffled Lilly's hair, "Still no luck with Bell?"
"He is better at hugs now." Lilly said, "Almost never freezes now."
"Progress." I said with a grin. "Surprised you didn't stay behind."
"Lilly wanted to travel!" She said, sitting up straight and squinting off into the distance. "Miss Asuka! Look left!"
I followed her pointed finger and shielded my eyes a little from the sun. "Looks like..."
"A patrol." Marius called from the wagon behind me. "Heading this way I think."
"Should we do anything?" I asked.
"We'll stop if they ask." Marius said, "I mean. I am prince, right?"
It took the riders, six in all, about ten minutes to catch up to us. The area we were travelling through wasn't the flattest, so they couldn't gallop without risking the horses, and as far as I could see, we were on the only road.
All of them were armoured much like Marius used to be, that sort of roman Segmentata, along with the bright crimson tabard. The lead rider had a fancy helmet too, also reminding me of a roman commander, with the bright red broom bristles on top.
All of them were armed too, but they made no move to draw. The leader just held up a hand for us to stop.
"Hello caravan!" He said, "We are expecting no merchants this way. What business do you have?"
Marius got off his wagon, expertly hiding the slight limp from having a numb butt, and replied, "I am Marius Victrix Rakia. Crown prince, returning after his year and a day in service to Lord Takemikazuchi."
The lead man looked left and right at his companions, then as one, each of them took a crossbow hanging behind them on their saddles, and pointed them at Marius.
"Our prince is dead. Imposter, you dishonour him by using his name."
Notes.
That felt good. Leaving a little cliffhanger there.
But seriously, this is the beginning of the Rakia arc. I hope (I probably did somewhere) I didn't miss any of the things I wanted to cover in the really fast month by month time compression there. I just didn't want to spend ages doing it all bit by bit.