I pce my hand over my forehead and look up at the sky. “How long until we reach the capital?” The sun is shining. There aren’t any clouds in the sky, and there’s a humidity in the air that leaves my skin feeling a bit sticky. And yet, all things considered, it is a nice day out. Guess running out of a burning building and saving a vilge does that to you.

  “Two days so long as we stick to the path and we do not slow down,” Roharu says, leading the way. On his back is a rge bag full of items Bazur asked for us to sell for him. Katsuro fnks the back along with Apollo. On the right, Chloe yawns and then pats her face as if to wake herself up. “But it may take longer with you two.”

  “Well, not everyone can keep such a backbreaking pace,” I quip, lowering my hand. The noises coming from the forest remind me of the videos back at home. Sometimes I would py one and pretend I was camping. “And we will need breaks.”

  He sighs. “Then it may take twice as long unless Apollo is up for the task of carrying both of you to speed things up.”

  Someone is testy today.

  “Sorry you didn’t get to try out your not—coffee,” Chloe says, changing the subject. “Maybe they will have something simir when we reach the city? There’s probably lots of food and drink vendors. Ooh and clothing stores. You think they have pants for women?”

  “Why wouldn’t they have pants?” Katsuro questions.

  “I don’t know. Sometimes this pce feels like it’s stuck in the past, but there’s also magic, so.... I want a new pair of pants,” Chloe remarks.

  “Same. Not trying to wear a dress when winter hits. There is snow, right?”

  “Yes, there is snow. The winter season is approaching, but we have some time left until the cold settles. The pn is for the house to be built before then, which means we cannot help everyone we come across.”

  “Couldn’t you just use magic to build a house?” Chloe asks, tapping a finger to her lips. “Would be efficient.”

  “One could,” Roharu agrees. “But I do not possess earth magic, nor does anyone in the vilge.”

  “Well, that’s bullshit,” Chloe grumbles. I nod my head in agreement.

  “How much would it cost to have someone do it? Not saying I don’t think you can build it, just curious.”

  Roharu shrugs. “Depends on the type of home. A small one could be around 2,700 bl give or take. But that would be the smallest house possible.”

  “One bl is worth how many honths?” I ask. Chloe shoots me a bewildered expression. “It’s the currency here.”

  “Twenty-four.”

  “Okay, so then 2,700 bl multiplied by 24 is....” I wrinkle my nose. Oh, I was never any good at mental math. Where’s a calcutor when you need it?

  “64,800,” Roharu says. I swear I can hear the disappointment dripping from his voice.

  “Okay, so for the sake of simplicity, then a small house would cost 64,800 in our world’s currency.”

  “Sounds like a desote house then,” Chloe chimes. “But it could be just fine. The hut wasn’t that bad.”

  “Maybe for one but not for a family,” Roharu says flippantly. “And a hut offers no protection. Pretty easy to burn down or one bad snowstorm, and then what? You build another when you could just build something right the first time.”

  Yep... he’s still testy over this trip.

  “You wanted to get a magical bag,” I start. “You could get more materials while we’re in the capital, right?”

  “That sounds expensive,” Chloe whispers.

  “I can afford it,” Roharu remarks.

  Chloe looks over her shoulder back at Katsuro.

  “Keh. Never needed coin. Everything I needed, I hunted for or built myself.”

  That makes sense. Food was plentiful in that forest and it’s not like he could leave even if he had wanted to. The vilge relies on the harvest and hunting, so what would you really need coin for? Weapons? Clothes? But they, or at least demons, have cws and other tools at their disposal.

  “No one is good at everything,” I admit. “It doesn’t hurt to have money to pay for the things others are more skilled at. The vilge would do well to have some kind of inn. It’s on the way to the capital, so it should get more traffic.”

  “Traffic?” Roharu stops and holds out a hand. His ears twitch. Either there is something nearby or he just wants me to walk next to him.

  “A lot of people passing through.” I fsh Chloe a small smile and then take Roharu’s hand. “Why do you generate so much heat? I thought it was a non-human thing, but Apollo isn’t that warm, and Yazir isn’t warm either.”

  “They do not conjure fire.” He lifts one shoulder and shrugs. “Never dwelled on it. After lunch, Apollo will carry you and Chloe so we can make more progress. When we get closer to the capital, Apollo, you will need to shift forms. It is not every day a kelpie strolls through the streets.”

  We walk for what feels like five hours, only stopping long enough to eat and rest. Roharu is a damn tyrant with how hard he pushes us to keep moving. Or maybe I just feel that way. Katsuro is jovial, humming an obnoxious tune while Chloe and I ride on Apollo’s back. The sun sets and still we continue to press on.

  “Are we not making camp?” I ask. The sound of insects chirping, and the cawing of the birds signals the end of the day. My stomach rumbles. I may not know what time it is, but my body knows it is close to dinnertime, and my eyelids are growing heavier. Somehow, not walking is more tiring than if I had walked the entire time or maybe that’s just the boredom talking.

  “No, I do not wish to make camp in the forest. We will continue until we reach the next vilge.” He points at a sign off to the side. “There should be an inn where we can rest without worry of any attacks. They should be more tolerant of humans, as humans mingle around the capital and the surrounding areas. Fewer beasts and all thanks to the saint or saintess.”

  I nod, even though he isn’t looking at me. An actual bed sounds nice and a hot bath is a plus.

  “So, we all sharing a room then?” Katsuro speaks up. “Ya know, I don’t have coin to pay for that.”

  “I am aware you are poor,” Roharu says with a sniff. “But no, we are not sharing a room. You will have your own. Apollo?”

  Apollo stomps his hooves and makes a crackling sound. I wince and grab my head. Apollo’s voice is like the sound of thunder. Loud. Aggressive. He needs to turn the volume down by like ten.

  “Not so loud,” I admonish. “He wants to rest in a ke and not in a stable like a common horse.”

  “How do you know that?” Chloe asks.

  “Because that’s what he said?”

  “Okay. If you say so,” Chloe says, but it sounds as though she doesn’t believe me. “Well, we’ll pay you back somehow.”

  “It is fine.”

  “I’m sure it’s expensive—”

  “The cost is insignificant.”

  “Megan,” Chloe whispers. “I don’t like being indebted.”

  Technically, we’re both in debt since there is no way we would have survived without Roharu and Katsuro, but I keep that thought to myself. “Instead of coin, just do something else then. You’re awesome at hunting. Maybe those skins could be used for something like leather?” I lean back and tilt my head up. “Someone in the vilge might know how to do something with it.”

  “If only we had the internet,” she jokes. “We could watch a video and DIY it.”

  I lean forward. “Might be able to find a book or something in the capital that would make things a little easier. If it has more humans there, then I’m sure there is something for us. We do like our convenience.”

  “Keh. The fox will be paid back. Just cuz I don’t have any coin now, doesn’t mean I won’t get any. Just never needed it back at home. And I ain’t askin’. Ya gonna accept the repayment.”

  “Whatever,” Roharu says. “The amount is miniscule. But if it helps you sleep better at night, then fine. Pay me back.” With a flick of his wrist, the conversation is over. The vilge, if it can be called that, is huge. It looms off in the distance. If I squint, I can make out the rge wooden gate. Either you go through the vilge, or you have to go around it to get to the capital.

  Going around it would make the trek that much longer and more dangerous.

  “This is a suitable distance,” Roharu says. “Apollo, we will meet you at the gate as soon as the sun breaks over the clouds.”

  Apollo bends his legs so Chloe and I can slide off. “This far? Is there any water nearby?”

  “There is some to the west. It is not far. I simply do not wish for them to see us approaching with a kelpie. It would give cause for arm. Kelpies are not typically pets.” He nods his head at Apollo. “He is strong. Do not fret.”

  Yeah, I know that, but I can’t help but worry about Apollo. He disappears into the forest. A dust cloud lingers where he once was. Guess he was itching to get to some water.

  “Ya know, you don’t give him nearly as much instruction as you do with me.” Katsuro crosses his arms.

  “Because he is not an idiot.” Roharu motions for us to keep walking. “Which reminds me, no mention of what Megan can do. And no mention of the vilge either. We do not know where the vilge stands.”

  “What does the vilge have to do with anything?” Katsuro scratches his ear.

  “Well,” I start, hiding a yawn behind my hand. “The vilge asked the capital for help, and they denied them. I’m guessing since this pce is closer, they have more gossip. There may be questions we don’t want to get into right now or ever.” I frown. “You know, eventually, someone might notice that the crops magically grow more fruit and vegetables as soon as you harvest it.”

  “And that day can come when we are more prepared. The attack showed how weak the vilge is.” He pins me with a look. “You are still healing. I do not care if someone is falling from the sky, do not put more stress on your body to save them. Let them fall.”

  Katsuro snorts.

  “No, you don’t just let them fall.” I rub my temple. “I won’t push it. For real this time.”

  “Megan.”

  “Roharu.”

  “Katsuro.”

  I roll my eyes and sigh. “Really, Katsuro?”

  “Was feeling left out. I like to bicker, but I agree with Roharu. Ya can’t keep putting other people in front of you. Gotta save yourself.”

  I bite my tongue. There is no point in going back and forth with both of them. They’ve made up their minds that saving others is not the right thing to do. Okay, I’m more annoyed that Roharu is being so insistent on it. It’s stupid. Roharu is only saying these things because he cares, but I just... I like having the ability to help others. To be wanted. Needed.

  When we arrive at the gate, Roharu does all the talking. He’s charismatic. Nicer than he was at the first vilge we came across. Nice may be pushing it, but he scores us conjoined rooms with king-sized beds, so I’m not compining. I plop down on the bed and sigh with relief.

  I don’t know how many threads count these sheets are, but I need it back at the vilge. I pat the bed for Chloe to sit next to me.

  “Do you wish to eat in here or downstairs?” Roharu crosses his arms and raises a brow. Katsuro walks into the room and stretches his arms above his head.

  “Get some grub downstairs. Then we don’t have to keep making trips for seconds.”

  Can’t argue with that logic, but I really don’t want to get up from this bed. With a sigh, I pce my hands on my knees and stand. Like the first inn, the room has a wooden bath off to the side, hidden behind a half wall for privacy. There are two brown nightstands on either side of the bed with a wall light overhead. The floor is wooden, but there is a red plush rug underneath the bed. On the wall, above the table with two chairs, looks to be a map. It’s the only wall decoration in the room.

  I’ll have to take a closer look at that when we come back to the room.

  “Do you smell that?” Chloe asks. “Smells sweet.”

  I wrinkle my nose as I hold on to the railing as we go down the steps to the main floor. Like the room we are staying in, the walls are beige. “Smells like cupcakes....” Closest to the door is a cupcake, sitting on top of the table with a cup of alcohol that is twice its size. It stills and then turns in our direction.

  “I think I’m tired,” Chloe says. “Now cupcakes are moving.”

  It stares at us for a moment and then runs out of the inn. Roharu hands a bck pouch to me and then he’s gone too.

  “Guess dinner is on me then,” I say with a tight smile.

  AutumnBanks

  Thanks for reading! Have a great week.