Love is so complicated

Chapter 20 – Knights of the Zog Table

Word had spread through the kingdom of the crashed wedding between Bean and Merkimer. Those who had attended the wedding had told the tale of a tall man dressed in brown with long black hair, bright green eyes with a scar on his right eye, and carried a giant colossal sword that stepped into the wedding hall and massacred the men that returned Bean to Dreamland. The word also spread about Merkimer being turned into a pig. Once that was seen the parents of Merkimer, Lorenzo and Bunny, had completely abandoned Merkimer and left him in Dreamland. Lorenzo of course left Dreamland with a couple of bruises and black eyes on his face after fighting Zog for about ten minutes. Surprisingly…there was no war started from it. Every problem that they had was settled in the wedding hall. Once that happened, Zog of course didn't forget about Koga. Once the commotion was done in the wedding hall Zog along with Odval, and Pendergast had Koga taken to the meeting room. Bean of course, along with Elfo and Luci followed closely but was stopped as soon as she got to the door. "No women allowed in the meetings," said Odval looking sternly down at Bean. Bean of course huffed "I'm not going anywhere till I find out what you're trying to do with him!" Odval would reply "That's fine by me." He then slammed the door in her face. Bean lets out an irritated groan and she looks through the slide that was onto the door.

Koga looked around the meeting room and commented "Wow this is a pretty small place for a meeting room," He said as he pulled up a chair, sits down, and places both of his feet on the table. Zog looked at Koga disapprovingly but lets it slide. Koga would then ask "You know I'm surprised that you didn't try and have me executed. You seem like the type of King with a short temper."

"Keep it up with that smart ass tone up and I might just It," Zog threatened.

Koga just smirked. "Well?" He egged him on.

Zog grumbled "I would do that…but you might be of some use to me," He said as he took a seat and so did Pendergast.

Koga looked at Zog curiously. "You sure you want to trust me? I mean I did abandon the previous mission that you assigned me…"

"That's all in the past," Zog replied as his angered tone was now gone and was replaced with a calmer one. "I want to worry more about now. What did you say your name was again? Koga? That's a nice name! Simple and easy to remember!"

Koga was looking at Zog perplexed. Just why exactly was he trying to butter him up all of a sudden?

Zog would continue

"You know Koga. I was furious when you came into the wedding hall and crashed the wedding. But…when you took out that huge sword and sliced through those men; you surprised me! I've never seen someone carry around a sword that looks like it weighs a tone! Are you some like…superhuman demi-god?"

Koga would just laugh remembering Bean asking him the same question back at Southwold. "No, I am not some superhuman demi-god. I'm just an ordinary guy who likes really big swords,"

"But of course, there has to be a catch," Odval chimed in. "No mere ordinary human can swing around a sword of this size," Odval says as he looks at the sword that was placed against the wall. Koga looks over at Pendergast "What about you?" He points at him. "You seem tough. Why don't you give it a try?"

"Me?" Pendergast said looking at Koga and then at king Zog. Zog gestures to Pendergast to go ahead and give it a try "Well…alright if you insist," Pendergast would then get up from his seat and walks over to where the sword was placed. Pendergast expects the sword and slides his hand down the blade. "Fine workmanship. I've seen large swords but I've never seen one of this kind. Where did you get it?" He asked as he turned to look at Koga.

Koga tried to remember as he scratched his cheek. Once he did so he replies "Oh yeah the man who adopted me when I was little had it. I just decided to take it for myself."

"Enough beating around the bush Pendergast just go ahead and get this over with already!" Zog said impatiently.

"Yes sire!" said Pendergast as he placed his hands around the hilt of the sword. He braced himself for the weight by taking deep breaths. Pendergast attempted to lift Koga's sword. It was just as he expected. The weight was unimaginable. Pendergast was struggling. He was grunting loudly. Sweating was beading down his head. But to everyone's surprise including Koga. The sword was being lifted off the ground by a few inches. But Pendergast drops the sword letting out a loud sigh.

"Not bad!" Koga said with a big smile on his face. "You must be the head knight am I right?"

Pendergast was trying to catch his breath. "Y-Yes…I…Am…" He pants.

"I can see why," Koga complimented. He then placed his attention back on Zog and asked "So where were we?"

"Alright let me cut the chase. Koga, I want you to join my round table and devote your services to me and Dreamland," said Zog "You get free food! Free clothes! And you get paid!"

This shocked Bean and she gasped. It also shocked Odval and Pendergast. Koga tilts his head a bit thinking. Bean was watching Koga closely anxiously awaiting his answer.

"Sure why the hell not," Koga accepted.

"Alright, then it's settled! Koga, you'll be second in command alongside Pendergast! Pendergast is one of my best knights! Having you on the team will make the squad unstoppable!"

Koga gets up from the seat and turns to Pendergast. "It's a pleasure to be joining your squad Captain!" Koga said cheerfully as held his hand out. Pendergast smiled and he shook Koga's hand "The same can be said for you, Koga!"

"Alright Pendergast go ahead and show Koga where he'll be-"

"We can do that later. I gotta go give a proper greeting to your daughter!" said Koga he turns around to head to the door but bumps his head. "OW! GODDAMN IT-JESUS CHRIST!" He unlocks the door and ducks so he can walk out the door.

Odval would close the door behind him as he could hear Elfo cheering happily for Koga deciding to stay in Dreamland. "Sire I would say I'm a bit surprised by your decision." He said as he turned to Zog. "By now he would probably be having his head chopped off."

"You're not seeing the bigger picture here are you Odval?" Zog said as he takes out a cigar and lighted it. "It's not every day a guy like him stumbles into Dreamland. We've been having a lot of luck come our way in this Kingdom lately. That Elfo and now a superhuman. This is a sign…" He takes a puff and then exhales letting the smoke exit out of his nostrils. "This is a sign…we're getting closer to finding the elixir of life…I can feel it in my bones." He paused for a moment

"Or maybe that feeling is diabetes…either way we're close…"

…

Bean had finally gotten out of her blood-covered wedding dress and got into her signature blue shirt and brown pants. Once Bean was fully dressed she met back up with Elfo, Luci, and Koga. The group headed out into town and stop by a local by where they all sat together at a table with the beers that they ordered. All accept for Koga of course. "Ok ok ok," Bean began after she just got done taking a chug of her drink. "Koga you gotta tell us how you did it! How did you live?!" She asked with a big excited smile on her face. "Like that fall should've killed you!"

"Yeah it was one hell of a fall," Koga nods in agreement and he points to his eye "I got this scar when I grazed the side of a rock. Thankfully I didn't lose an eye."

"It's a cool scar though!" said Elfo staring at it.

"So what you just fell on solid ground and didn't go splat?" Luci asked taking a sip of his drink.

"No, I hit the ground after hitting a few branches along the way. I tried catching onto some rubble as I fell. Then that same rubble broke off and I kept falling through branches that were sticking out. Then I went splat." He drinks some water "But I was dying though. My wounds were starting to get to me and I was bleeding out. I was laying on the river bank flat on my back and when I was beginning to fade out…I saw…" He paused for a moment thinking back to it. The three of them leaned in gently in anticipation of what Koga was going to say. Bean would say "Well what did you see?" She asked eagerly.

"Was it an angel?" Elfo asked

"Did you see the devil trying standing over you?" Luci asked

"No. It was a white wolf..." Koga said as she placed his chin into the palm of his hand and elbow on the table. "I don't know why but…as I was staring at the wolf it went to nuzzle my cheek…I think it was speaking to me too…I just don't remember what it said…but it felt so familiar to me as if…" He paused once more and sighed "I don't know. All I know is that it kept me from passing out till some Giant Red-headed lady with an eye patch like Pendergast found me. It was thanks to her I was nursed back to health…Kind of," He rubs his chest where his wounds were. "But once I was well enough to go I left and tried to find my way to Dreamland. It took me a few days because I kept getting turned around but thankfully I ended up here!"

"And gave me the best memory of you ever!" Bean said holding up her mug "A TOAST TO KOGA!" She said happily as she along with Elfo and Luci held up their mugs and say "TO KOGA!" and chugged their drinks.

Once they were done Bean wipes her mouth and says "Although I'm surprised that you took my dad's offer. I mean isn't the point of a wanderer is to keep going and see the world?"

Koga scratches his cheek "True. I could've said no," He nods once again "But…In a way, I needed to make it up to you guys. I told you all that I'd take you to see the world and I failed at that. I lost my fight and you got taken back here. I couldn't just let that slide." He stares down at his cup of water and shakes the cup "Plus I was pissed off that he got the best of me and I wanted revenge…" He said with slight irritation in his voice.

Bean eye's widened and she smiled at him "Oh Koga…that's so…so thoughtful of you. You could've left a long time ago but you came back for us,"

"Well…to be honest, I really like you guys," Koga said smiling at them.

"Ugh…just when you seemed interesting you start to make me want to throw up," Luci said bitterly

"Don't mind Luci Koga. I think it's sweet that you came back here for us!" Elfo said giving a warm smile to Koga.

Koga just chuckled at them and then looks at Bean "I'm surprised you haven't ridden out of here yet. As soon as you saw that the marriage was canceled."

Bean looks down at her mug and gently flicks at it. "Yeah I thought about it but…" She pauses for a moment to look for her answer then says "When we were traveling with you Koga and we ran into all of those problems like the dragon, the spider lady, your old buddies from the order of whatever they were called. It made me realize that I'm not fully ready to be out on my own especially if I were to travel with you again. Honestly, we'd just get in the way…especially me…"

"Yeah, you guys would be getting in the way. Especially you Bean. You're not ready for what's out there," Koga nods. "Your swordsmanship could use some work too. It's way too sloppy and your reaction time is abysmal,"

Bean looked at Koga surprised. "Wow…usually people would be gentle when they say I suck buut…I like the brutal honesty,"

The doors to the bar would open and in stepped Pendergast. His one eye scanned the area till it lands on Koga. A big smile appeared on his face and he hurried over to him. "Koga! I found you!" He said walking up to the table and he then sees Bean, Elfo, and Luci. "Ah, I see. You're already guarding the princess! You just got recruited and you're already at your job!" He looked at Koga proudly. "But come! I must introduce you to the rest of the knights!"

"Oh yeah, I do need to meet the other knights," Koga said getting up from his seat. "I'll see you guys later!" He waved at them as he followed Pendergast.

"Wait we're coming too!" said Bean getting up. "I gotta see this! This Is going to be hilarious!" She along with Elfo and Luci followed close behind.

The group would return to the castle and enter the courtyard. Pendergast clears his throat and he calls out "ALRIGHT KNIGHT'S LINE UP!" Instantly all of the knights ran up to Pendergast. "Alright Koga, I'd like to introduce you to the squad you're going to help manage! This is turbish!" He said pointing at the short round man with a bald spot on his head and his blond hair going around the sides of his head. "That's Mertz," He points to the man with light brown hair with a long head and a very thin mustache on his lip. Koga stared at them for a moment. He then turned around to look at Bean. "Yeah it's a downgrade from what you're used to…" said Bean.

Koga sighed, then takes a deep breath and turns back to the knights. Turbish would ask "Wow you have a lot of hair. Is that a tail on your head? Or are you a caterpillar?" he asked with a big smile on his face. Koga just stared at Turbish with a blank expression. He then turned to face Pendergast. Pendergast would then say "Just go with it…" He said rubbing his head embarrassed. "Right…" Koga replied as he turned back to Turbish. "WELL! Even though you don't have the brain!" He said placing one hand on his shoulder "I'm sure you got the brawn!" Koga gave Turbish a light jab in the stomach causing Turbish to let out a groan and double over.

"Oops," said Koga looking down at him.

Pendergast had gone on to introduce the rest of the knights that were there. He would also bring up two knights that are currently missing. "We do have two knights that are our best scouts. Striker and Bolts. But they're currently lost…"

"I…what?" Koga was completely confused at how that was possible.

Once that was done. Koga was nodding in approval "This is great! A lot of character is among these men! And…elderly…" Koga said as he looked over at the knight who was wearing pink slippers. She was the mother Mertz. "BUT! I want to see what everyone here can do in battle! SO! What we are going to do is go on some random mission for the kingdom!"

"I AM IN!" said Pendergast feeling energized.

Although the rest of the knights didn't look so enthusiastic. They were already scared of what Koga was going to bring to the table.

And what mission were they exactly going to go on?