Chapter 37: Never Again

KITH

The pair make their way towards Thisome Keep.

"I have something to tell you."

Kith eyes him suspiciously. What more did he have to tell him.

"You're not going to like it. So prepare yourself."

Kith groans.

"Eris isn't here at Thisome Keep. Renimil Cloudsurge and his group are here."

Kith stops abruptly. He was tried, sore and, and his patience was almost depleted. "What the hell are we going here then? Wait. What the hell do you mean by his group? Where are Eris and the others?" Kith grabs Ryx's arm, pulling him to a stop. "How the shit do you know all of this?"

The dragon looks down at his young apprentice's arm and Kith removes his hand. "Smart choice, little orc."

Kith growls at his master's stupid pet name for him. He knew the bastard only said it to get a rise out of him.

As they walk, Ryx begins to tell him what became of the others. "Kosh and Eris resented Ren. They blamed him for your death and destroyed the tome to spite him. A fight broke out and Aluuna got hurt in the process."

Kith's mind reels. He didn't think his death would cause so much turmoil for his people. He didn't even blame Ren. Kith knew what he was doing when he pushed the bastard elf out of the way.

"After a few days, a secret of Flig's past came out. His adopted family was the true cause of Harrin's mother's death."

"Oh shit," Kith says.

Ryx nods, "The team decided to go their separate ways. Eris, Kosh, and Harrin went after the next tome. And the others went back to regroup with a third team in Thisome. You need to talk to Renimil. He needs to know you don't blame him."

Kith's heart aches at the fact that he still had to wait to see Eris, but if they wanted this to end, he needed his group back together.

Kith thinks about his life back in his home village as they walk the rest of the way to Thisome. Who would have ever thought he would be the glue that held the team together? It both filled him with pride and humbled him.

Kith enters once again through the massive stone doors that lead into Thisome Keep. It was still as active as ever even as the sun was well past set. His burns and ribs were almost completely healed but Ryx was no cleric and Kith couldn't wait to see Aluuna again. Both for her talents and her friendship. She was a good ear. She helped him on a few occasions when Eris was confusing and he needed someone to decipher women. Someone should really write a book.

Grym and a silver-haired female greet them at the door. After the introduction of the said girl was complete Ryx asked where Renimil was.

"Any pretty elves here?" Kith asks nonchalantly.

Kana looks at him with confusion, as two more join them. A woman in plate armor and a man who by the smell of him... Kith's hand instinctively goes to his sword.

Grym holds out a hand. "He's a friend. Alek Illaryn, meet Master Ryx's apprentice, Kith Cromstone."

Alek nods his head to Kith. "Pleasure."

Kith eyes him warily for a moment before his master elbows him. "Likewise," he responds with a forced smile. Everything about this man smelled of danger, darkness,… death.

Mika sticks out her hand for Kith to shake. "Don't worry," she says to Ryx. Illaryn is used to the ignorance of people." She looks at Kith. "Give him a chance. Loyalty and friendship will follow." She inclines her head, turns around, and takes her leave with Illaryn and the others as she wraps her arm around Kana's shoulder.

Ryx turns to Kith. "Stop pushing people away. Give them a chance, Kithyx. Then, if you have to, you can rip their heads off."

"I like the last part," Kith says. "I'm going to look for Ren. I'll try to stay out of trouble and not embarrass you."

"Too late." Ryx mumbles, mocklingly, as he walks off in the other direction.

Kith enters Buttered Barley Tavern. It's brightly lit and the music is jaunty. Several of the townsfolk remember him from his last visit and stop and say hello.

"Have any of you seen Ren? You know the cocky elf who thinks he's God's gift to Golarion."

They laugh and give him directions to the house where he is staying.

"And have you seen Aluuna and Flig?"

"No, Master Flig leaves without notice for days, but Aluuna is pretty easy to find."

"And easy on the eyes," one of the dwarves bellows. "She isn't taken is she?"

Kith nods. "Aye, she is and he isn't so easy to get past."

The others make fun of the bellowing dwarf as Kith leaves the gregarious bunch.

The housing areas are quite lit with magical torches lining up on the building. He comes to the house from the directions the tavern dwarves gave him and knocks. No answer. He knocks again harder. Stomping ensues before the door is swung open abruptly.

A half-naked Renimil stands in the door, followed by a blast that lifts Kith off his feet and back into a house behind him. "What sorcery is this that you dare show yourself to me in that face."

"You arse, it's me, Kith!"

"Kith is dead!" Ren raises his hands to cast another spell but is blocked by Grym.

"It's true, Renimil." Ryx and several of the villages come out to see all the commotion.

Ren stares at him in disbelief as Ryx explains what happened over the last nine months.

Ren clears his throat. "Leave us, please." His voice sounds hollow.

Everyone disperses, leaving Ren and Kith standing there alone.

The elf walks up to Kith. "It's really you?"

Kith nods. Relief and happiness flood him. Ren grabs Kith and hugs him until it almost hurts. And Kith hugs him back.

Ren backs away as both swipes at their faces.

"Tell anyone," Ren starts.

"And I will flay you." Kith finishes.

They both nod in agreement and enter the house. As suspected, a beautiful human female steps from a room in the back. Kith tries to look anywhere but at the naked woman coming to pout about being woken up.

"Go home, lovely. My brother is back and we have much to talk about." The female looks at Kith up and down. Then she looked to Ren about to say something but the look on his face told her to keep her mouth shut and leave.

With attitude, she stomps off to fetch her things and marches out the door with a slam.

"Still the same old Elven prick, breaking female's hearts." Kith says with a chuckle.

"It's not like I lie," he says, nonchalantly.

They sit there in silence for a while, before Kith takes off his shoes.

"Hungry?" Ren asks, moving a cupboard.

"When have you known me not to be? Wait, none of the grass shit you like to eat, please. Meat, thank you."

"There's an eatery down the way. I'm not your personal chef." Ren says with a smile as he takes out bread, cheese, and a whole lot of meat.

GRYM

Kana swings open the door to Grym's office carrying a dozen parchment papers. Illaryn stands to help her. She still didn't remember anything from the night she almost died those months past and Illaryn asked that they not tell her. The decision didn't sit easy with him or Mika but Grym thought it was for the best. Taki had grown larger since they'd first come here and was too big for the cozy office. She peeks her head in as she stands impatiently at the door for Kana and Illaryn.

"What is it, dear girl?" He asks at her abrupt entrance.

"Our inquiries have finally resulted in answers, Sir Grym!"

"Several places have spied Horvath?" Illaryn asks.

Kana nods.

"Grym, the last place he's been seen is nearby," Mika says quietly as she reads a parchment.

Grym's eyes darken at the news of such an evil man at his doorstep.

"Arayna!" A husky redheaded dwarf steps into Grym's office. "Tighten security." Grym snaps. "And get me Renimil Cloudsurge and Kith Cromstone." Arayna leaves the room in a hurry.

"Kith has barely had time to rest," Kana says in protest.

Grym waves her off. "No time Kana. Go get Aluuna and Flig. We will set out by half day." Grym's face darkens as he walks towards his office door. "This bastard will not harm my people. What happened in Fiorna's Faith will not happen here."

*** Since so much is going on and I've had to juggle so many characters as they become reunited in the next few chapters, they will be a little smaller so as not to overload the chapter.Hope you enjoy, Tigerblaize Valorian