I do not own Dragon Quest VIII or any of its characters.
Farebury
Ambush. A trap in which one or more concealed attackers lie in wait to attack by surprise. To attack by surprise from a hidden place. Attack. This, despite the others' reactions, did not qualify as an attack. A swarm of slimes, only a dozen or so, leaping out of the trees, their tear drop-shaped, gellatinous, blue bodies jiggling as they bounced around, their wide, dopey smiles stretched across the front of their bodies. The others-Yangus, King Trode, Medea, even Marik-all panicked, Yangus grabbing his club and literally leaping into the fray; Marik drew his silvery Soldier's Sword, charging into battle as well, his sleeveless yellow coat flapping behind him and soon being soaked, along with his blue shirt, grey pants and boots, and red bandanna, in splattered Slimes as he and Yangas slaughtered the weak monsters.
As he watched them fight, Kane left his own Soldier's Sword in its sheath behind his back. His straight, silver hair was left uncovered, falling around his head messily, reaching just past his ears and parted on the left side. He wore a thicker jacket than Marik, though also sleevless, his being red and with thick leather on the shoulders and chest then a white-sliver collar, a thick, reinforced, leather curaiss hidden beneath it, a long-sleeved black shirt below it, and light grey pants with dark grey boots, much like Marik's own. Unlike Marik's coat, which hung open and had no way to be fastened, Kane's had three white, leather straps and white metal loops on the right side of his torso to hold the jacket closed, though it hung open below the brown leather belt he wore outside of the jacket for the purpose of holding a pouch on his left side. Lastly, he had a black poncho over his shoulders with a hood, which was currently down, and tied together in the front with a pair of strings.
Unlike Yangus and Marik, Kane had a Steel Shield, though it currently hung from his back with his sword's hilt through one of the arm loops. Marik had decided to leave his own shield behind when they'd begun their journey, but Kane had kept his own. He preferred to live by a policy of "better to have it and not need it."
A Slime leapt at Kane, landing on his left upper arm and remaining there, but Kane merely reached over, brushing his hand over it as though petting it. The point on top of its head bent backward under his hand, then sprang forward again, wiggling, and the Slime trembled as though shivering. Kane lifted it onto his shoulder, setting it so that it was facing forward just as Marik and Yangus finished off the rest of the Slimes.
"Thank Goodness that's dealt with," King Trode sighed, his high voice not matching the green-skinned, troll-like appearance he'd been cursed into, the same curse having transformed Princess Medea into a white horse, though she retained her awareness. King Trode looked over at Kane, seeing him petting his Slime still. "What do you think you're doing with that thing!?"
"It's a Slime," Kane said. "It's harmless, and this one likes me."
"Say wot?" Yangus asked. "Yer havin' a laugh! You wanna keep that creepy thing?"
"Want, nothing," Kane said. "I am keeping it."
"You and your pets," King Trode sighed. "I can understand why you brought that," he glanced at Kane's other pet, "but that Slime is different!"
Kane sighed. "As I said, harmless."
He looked to his right as his other pet stepped up beside him. It was a Hellhound, a wolf with blue fur, white along its underside and its paws, and glowing red eyes. They'd been attacked by a pack of them before having met Yangus, during which time he'd tried to rob them, had broken a bridge and nearly died, then swore his loyalty to Marik after he'd saved Yangus. They'd killed the pack that attacked them, but this one had been caught in a hunter's trap. Kane had freed it and it had returned the kindness by leaving rather than attacking them, but had returned later and begun following them. After Kane had fed it, it had begun to travel with them and had taken a liking to him, allowing him to ride it if he wanted and helping them fight when ordered to.
"You've always had a way with monsters," King Trode recalled. "I suppose it's not surprising that Slime likes you."
"Not every creature or animal we fight is a monster," Kane said. "Some are, but even most monsters simply act according to instinct. They're more honest than humans."
"That's true," King Trode nodded. "Oh, very well. You may keep the Slime. Just keep it away from me."
Kane bowed. "Thank you, your majesty."
"Come on," King Trode sighed. "We should be nearing the town of Farebury, I believe. Let's hurry and reach it before the sun sets."
Everyone nodded and they quickly packed up their things into the wagon, which Medea pulled. Kane wasn't enthused by Medea having to pull the wagon, but she didn't seem to mind, seeming to want to do so to contribute. She'd always been kind and humble that way. Whenever Kane or Marik had been hurt either fighting the monsters or wild animals that had strayed too close to Trodain's capital or had been threatening trade routes, or else had hurt themselves during training, she'd always tend to their injuries personally.
"So, are you and the guv really brothers?" Yangus asked as they travelled along the road. "I know you've said before you are, but you don't look like each other, and you certainly don't act alike. The only thing you really 'ave in common is that you both survived in Trodain."
"For the thousandth time, we're half brothers," Kane said. "Honestly, Yangus, you wouldn't believe the sky was blue if someone told you, would you?"
"Course I would!" Yangus defended himself. "I can see it's blue!"
Kane rolled his eyes. He and the others fell silent, traveling quickly. Finally, as the sun was approaching the horizon, they spotted the town of Farebury, heading inside. As they walked, Kane looked around, seeing the fearful stares the people around them were giving King Trode, several of them running through the town to whisper to other citizens, who then scattered deeper into town. He narrowed his eyes as they began to pass a charred pile of ash and wood that had once been a home.
"Your majesty, you should wait outside of town," Kane warned King Trode. "Your appearance is causing a stir, and the people here may believe you're a monster."
"Says the guy wiv a monster on 'is shoulder an' another beside 'im!" Yangus countered, looking around. "But actually, ya may be right."
King Trode looked around, noticing the stares. "How dare these people! Don't they know I'm a king!?"
"No," Kane said. "The whole point of leaving behind your robes and our armor was to travel undercover, so all they see is a small green creature driving a cart."
"That's true," King Trode nodded. "I'm sure it will be fine."
Kane nodded mutely, staring at a burned-down building they were passing. It was still smoking, so it had to have been within the last day. Finally, they reach a large, open area of town where several venders were set up and stopped.
"Medea and I will wait here," King Trode decided. "You three head into town and see if you can find anyone who knows where we can find Master Rylus. As Dhoulmagus' former master, he may be able to tell us where to find Dhoulmagus."
The others all nodded and spread out into town, asking about Rylus. However, within minutes, trouble began. First, a man at the tavern informed Kane that Rylus had died in a fire about a day prior. Then, a drunken man wearing a bizarre outfit, named Kalderasha, who was claiming to have foreseen the fire with his fortune telling abilities, seemed to recognize Kane, but was interrupted when someone burst in, yelling about monsters in the town. Kane rushed outside, sprinting back toward the courtyard where they'd left King Trode, Medea, and Kane's Hellhound. It wasn't however, the Hellhound at which people were throwing rocks. It was King Trode, at least until Medea stepped in the way, Kane and the others all reaching them a moment later. They quickly led King Trode and Medea from the town where no one was hurling stones before Kane explained what he'd learned.
"What!?" King Trode yelped. "He's dead!? Oh no, no no!" He paced away from them a few feet before stopping and sighing, turning back to them. "Well, there's no use crying over spilt milk. It's Dhoulmagus we're after. He's the one who cursed the princess and I after all. He's the one who made us look so ridiculous! I had hoped Rylus might be able to help us locate him."
"Maybe there's still someone here who can," Kane spoke up.
"Who?" King Trode asked.
"A fortune teller," Kane said. "The consensus seems to be that the fire was a freak accident, but the fortune teller claimed to have forseen the fire and it sounded as though he believed it was no accident. He may be a fake, but it could be worth a visit."
King Trode considered for a moment. "No. We've no time to waste on charlatans."
"Wait!" a young girl in an orange dress called out from the gate. "Please, wait! I'm sorry for coming after you like this. It's just that...I wanted to ask you a favor!"
"Are you not afraid of me, young lady?" King Trode asked.
"I dreamt about you," the girl explained. "I dreamt that some people came to town with a strange creature. It was...sort of halfway between a human and a monster. And I dreamt that they could make wishes come true."
Yangas laughed.
"A strange creature!?" King Trode shrieked. "Are you referring to me!?"
"I'm so sorry!" the girl gasped. "I didn't mean to be rude!"
King Trode sighed. "Not to worry. I've had worse things said to me today! You know, you remind me of my Medea. You're about the same age. Anyway, you said you had a dream about me? Most peculiar."
"Your father is Kalderasha, isn't he?" Kane asked.
The girl nodded. "He is. My name is Valentina, and my father was once a great fortune teller."
"This could be our chance," Kane said. "He could help us."
King Trode hummed thoughtfully. "What wish did you dream we could make come true?"
"Please, if you come to my house, I'll explain everything," Valentina pleaded.
King Trode sighed, nodding. "Very well. Kane, Marik, Yangus, go with her. If her father is, indeed, a true fortune teller, we could use his help."
The three of them nodded, following Valentina back into the town.
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