“Look Vim, it’s where we helped fix that cart,” I said as I pointed to the familiar stump.

Vim slowed, glanced at me, and then glanced to the side of the road.

Meriah shifted her hood a little, as to glance around. “What now?” Meriah asked.

Smiling happily, I studied the grass and dirt road. It was a little mushy, thanks to all the rain, but it was clear that I wasn’t wrong. I could still see the marks in the road from the cart, where they had tried to push it and move it. And I could see the little spot the family had used to set up camp, since they had been stuck there a whole day before we had come around.

“Is it?” Vim asked.

“Yeah! Look, there’s not many now since it’s so cold but there are still some flowers there. Remember the whole field had been full of them? Little Kealla had gathered them up as a thank you, remember?” I asked.

Vim frowned in a way that made me wonder if he really had forgotten, but then he nodded. “So it is…” he said softly.

“Cart? Flowers?” Meriah asked.

“A wheel had broken on a cart. Vim helped them fix it. They had been a small family, carrying pelts to Nevi. They were very thankful,” I explained to Meriah.

“Ah…” Meriah nodded, but had a look on her face that was a little odd as she glanced at Vim. She looked like she wanted to ask Vim what the heck I was talking about.

Vim turned, glanced at me for a moment… and then smiled gently at me. “You really do remember everything, don’t you?” he asked.

“I… I don’t know Vim, do I?” I asked. He and others sometimes commented on my ability to remember so flawlessly, but how was I to actually know if it was true or not?

“Had they been friends?” Meriah asked.

“No. Just a human family we had happened upon. Did you note she even remembered the name of the little girl?” Vim said to her.

“Was it right?”

“You’re asking me?” Vim asked back.

I grinned at the two. “Kealla. Karl. Mary. They had been sweet. They offered us one of the pelts. A moose or something,” I said.

Vim huffed at me. “You’d do well to remember that, Meriah. Don’t ever do or say anything that she can use against you, even hundreds of years later. Because she’ll do so.”

“What…? I wouldn’t! Jeez!” I complained, but with a smile, as I stepped forward to return us to walking.

“I’d have preferred that warning earlier. I’ve heard a lot about her, but that memory is not something anyone has mentioned,” Meriah said stiffly.

Vim glanced at her, and I enjoyed the look on his face. It was some kind of weird frown. “Then what are they saying about her?” he asked.

Glancing from him to her, since I was walking between them, I watched Meriah shake her head beneath her thin hood. “You think I’ll say that now? Not a chance.”

“Too bad. I wanted to see her grin and blush when you spoke of cute things,” Vim said.

I grinned and blushed, for him, as Meriah chuckled. “Some of it had been adorable, yes. Speaking of past events, did you really send a bunch of southern pirates to Lumen? Without even asking for permission first?” Meriah asked me.

“Well… yes? I guess…?” I answered.

Permission…? Was I supposed to have gotten that first? Vim had been the one to okay it… I had just wanted to invite them to the Society, not necessarily send them to Lumen.

Actually… “Wait… Vim… you don’t impose. Does… does that mean I sent them to Lumen? Without warning?” I asked, worried now that I thought about it.

“Worried now? A year later?” he asked.

“Verily.”

Vim sighed and slowed, nodding. “You did. I sent them with a letter, you remember us writing it together don’t you?”

“Yeah but…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve not done it often lately, but back in the day I used to send humans and non-humans alike to many locations on their own, because I had been too busy handling something more important. You sent a ragtag group of women and children. I’ve sent battle hardened groups of mercenaries to quaint little hamlets. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But that’s part of life, you take risks,” Vim said.

I groaned at that. “In other words I really did impose, and odds are the only reason it worked out fine is thanks to those like Merit who accepted the burden. I abused my friendships,” I said.

Meriah snickered, which worried me, but at least it sounded genuine and a little happy. “That’s wonderful,” she said between her giggles.

“They’re doing well last I heard,” Vim said.

“Don’t ignore what I just said, Vim.”

“I hadn’t. Didn’t…? I’m saying they’re doing well, as such all is well. It worked out. I warned you when we sent them there that if they hadn’t been accepted they would have been sent away, you knew the risk,” Vim said.

“Well…” I wanted to groan again, but didn’t since Meriah’s chuckling died down a little.

“Personally I say it’s suitable that the wife of our protector imposes a little on us. You really never ask for anything Vim, from anyone, it’s time people started to compensate for all the stuff you’ve done for them,” Meriah said.

Great… was that how people were looking at it…? That everything I did, or would do, was something they needed to oblige just because I was Vim’s wife…?

“That argument only works for certain people, I’d say. Don’t forget they banished her from Lumen, Meriah,” Vim said.

“Ah. But did they do that before or after you two became partners?” Meriah noted.

“Before…” I mumbled begrudgingly.

Vim didn’t say anything, and now I was the one feeling depressed.

Sighing again, I decided to get off the topic. “Do you think we’ll be able to go to Lumen anytime soon Vim?” I asked.

“At this rate, who knows.”

I noted his tone, and decided to change topics again.

Ever since we left Nevi, Vim had seemed… back to normal. But anytime Meriah or I hinted or spoke of the recent events, he’s been a little gruff about it. So I had been trying my best to avoid such topics, as well as one could anyway.

“How about you Meriah? How long will you be joining us?” I asked.

“Honestly…? I’d really like to join you to Telmik. To see what happens. If I will or not though, we’ll see. There’s also some stuff I want to do down south, so I’ve not decided yet,” Meriah said.

Oh…? She wanted to see what happened concerning Light and the Chronicler then. To see how Vim would confront them.

I couldn’t blame her of course. At all.

Wait… I had just guided the conversation to where I had been trying to avoid…!

Glancing at Vim, I was very relieved to find him softly smiling. Either he hadn’t been paying much attention to what Meriah had said, or he really was doing better.

Maybe it was the weather. It wasn’t raining for the first time in a long time… although it was very cold. There was a breeze, and it chilled a little.

Last time Vim and I had traveled this way, it had been raining but it hadn’t been this cold. In fact while we had traveled along this coastline I had played in the water along the beach as we had walked at the time. It was a little too cold this time for such a thing.

Honestly I was surprised it wasn’t snowing. That was how cold it felt.

“She smiles, blushes, then grows all worried and moody and now she has the look of someone who is hungry,” Meriah said.

“Huh?” I turned to look at her. What? I looked hungry?

“Don’t mistake it for fickleness. She’s a cat but not that kind,” Vim said.

I smiled at that. “Was that a compliment Vim?”

“More like a warning. Tell me, Renn, do you have family? Siblings?” Meriah asked.

“Oh? No. My family all died long before I joined the Society. I might have an aunt out there, but I sincerely doubt it. I had only met her a couple times, because she had been infirm and… well…” I shrugged, not wanting to get into details about her and how my uncle had treated her.

“That’s a shame. Would have been interesting to meet more like you,” Meriah said.

“Trust me, it’s not a shame at all,” I said.

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Meriah studied me a for a moment and before I could feel awkward for saying such a thing during what had been a somewhat happy moment… Meriah then gave me a gentle smile and reached over to pat my shoulder. She didn’t say anything. She simply gave my shoulder a small squeeze, and nodded, and then pulled her hand back to her side.

Slightly stunned by the very obvious gesture, I wished she was the type to not get offended by physical contact. I wanted to hug her all of a sudden.

But I knew better than to do so now. Rapti had offered to hug her when we left, and Meriah had threatened to never return or see her again if she did.

Which was strange, since she had touched me when we first met. When we had walked back to Rapti’s house without Vim, after he had destroyed that house. After Meriah had relayed her news about what had happened to Lomi’s village. She had wrapped an arm around me, as if to guide me.

Maybe that had just been a spur of the moment thing, or maybe she didn’t mind touching people but didn’t like people touching her? I wasn’t sure. But after finding out she didn’t want such skin-ship I’d made sure to not overstep my bounds with her since.

“I heard you mention your parents by the way Vim, since we’re talking of family. Might I ask their names? I’ve never heard you speak of them before,” Meriah then changed focus, to Vim.

A little worried, I glanced at Vim out of the corner of my eye. I pretended to keep looking ahead, and not at him, as he glared at Meriah and me. As if it was my fault she was getting personal all of a sudden.

“Normally by now you run off. Why you sticking around? You could just meet up with us at Telmik,” Vim said.

“Gosh Vim,” I whispered, a little shocked at how brunt he had just been.

Meriah snickered again. “I like this new Vim. Feels more honest somehow.”

“New Vim?” I asked.

“Oh definitely. Though I’m still trying to figure out if he’s changed because of you, the vote, or if he’s just being very moody,” Meriah said.

“All of the above,” Vim answered.

I smiled at him, since it seemed he had answered in slight jest. He had sounded a little too calm.

“He has seemingly been trying to be more snarky lately. Though most of the time he fails at it,” I said.

“Really now?” Meriah asked.

I nodded as a stronger breeze blew past. I shifted a shoulder, since some of the really cold air had slid between my hood and shirt and ran down my back. Really…! I was getting spoiled. I used to walk through snow nearly naked and not even flinch. Yet now even a cold breeze was enough to make me want to shiver. Maybe I was growing old?

“Cold Renn?” Vim asked.

“Hm…? A little…” I answered honestly.

“Winter’s in full force. I bet it’ll start snowing soon, even here on the coast,” Meriah said as she glanced up at the sky.

We couldn’t see the sea from here, but I could smell it on the air. Particularly the breeze. I knew if I headed westward for a few hours I’d see it in the distance. Right now there were hills and trees in the way.

Looking away from the distant tree-line, I found Vim staring at me. I gave him a smile, to which his eyes narrowed at and then he looked away.

My smile softened, but not because his actions had hurt me. Instead because it had relieved me.

That furrowed look was not one of disappointment or anger, but instead relief. He had just studied me, likely to see if I looked like I was sick or something. He had found me not needing such worry, and in relief had looked away.

He really was back to normal. These last couple days at Nevi had been… odd. As if he had not been paying attention. To anything or anyone. Not even me.

We had eaten together at that restaurant. It had honestly been a lovely moment, and Vim had not ignored me, but it was clear his mind had been on other things. His answers to my questions, and my attempts at flirting, had been gently responded to with soft smiles… and nothing more. Usually he’d respond in kind, or sigh and growl at me when I did such foolish things. His lack of flirting back, or teasing me and or ignoring me, had been proof he had been… not fully with me that moment. Even if he was focusing on me, the man’s heart had been elsewhere. Worried and stressing over something beyond our little moment in the world.

And something told me it was more than the news Meriah had brought. Far more. It was related to what Elaine had said. It had to be. Could… could it all be connected, somehow? Was his strange stress concerning Elaine’s prophecy related to what was happening within the Society…? I couldn’t really see how such a thing could be possible, but it would make sense. Especially since I wasn’t sure yet if Vim’s reaction to the news that Light and the Chronicler had possibly destroyed one of our own villages had been genuine and normal.

Glancing at Meriah, I found her gently smiling as she walked. Unaware I was even looking at her. It seemed, like Vim, she was more than content to walk in silence. Even for long periods of time.

I wonder if I could ask her about Vim and his reactions. She was someone, like Lilly, that Vim seemed to trust. I wasn’t sure just yet to what extent, but… He had entrusted her to find out the truth about Lomi’s village. And trusted her findings on it.

Why had he trusted her with it and not Lilly, I wonder?

Though there was obviously a disconnect a little. Such as her earlier statement about not knowing anything about Vim’s parents. Though… Lilly had found his strange openness about them odd too.

Still… even if not as trusted, or as close, as Lilly… she still knew Vim a little more than usual when it came to matters such as these. She might know better if Vim’s reaction to the news was normal or not. Meriah had not been too surprised when it had happened… and had in fact been the first to say we needed to sneak away before being seen after the fact too. So she obviously had seen it before or at least something like it… Actually… hadn’t I been told that Vim had done something similar before? He had supposedly destroyed a whole lake, emptying it, when he had found out about Merit’s attraction to him. It had startled him that much.

Maybe it was more normal than I thought. Him breaking things when getting emotional, or getting stunned, was a common thing. Though usually it was a chair he was sitting in, or a rock he stood upon. Not a whole building, or massive ship.

How had he broken that thing anyway…? Had he been standing on it when it happened? Or on the dock near it? The house breaking I understood, since that crack had emerged from under him… but…

“Meriah…” I whispered her name, getting her attention.

Glancing at Vim, and seeing him not even look our way, I smiled and gestured for Meriah to slow a little. She too looked at Vim, then with a raised eyebrow of interest she smirked and got the hint. The two of us slowed our pace, as Vim kept on walking at his normal one. Before he got too far ahead of us, I noticed a tiny glance from him. He confirmed nothing was wrong, and then kept on walking as usual.

He was being kind. Or maybe, to him, us sneaking back to whisper was a good thing. It meant he’d be free of questions for a moment.

“I am all for this, Renn, but do know he can hear us talking even from leagues away,” Meriah whispered as we got farther and farther behind Vim.

“I know. I’m not trying to hide from him… just well…” I hesitated, since I should have realized Meriah would have known how good Vim’s hearing was. Didn’t I just assume she knew more about him than most? Like Lilly? Jeez Renn, get it together!

“Well?” Meriah asked with a grin as she got closer. We were suddenly shoulder to shoulder as I sighed and nodded.

“I wanted to ask if his reaction was normal. To the news you gave him.”

Meriah’s grin softened a little, and she glanced at Vim for a moment… then back at me. “You don’t know?”

Uh-oh.

“He does stuff like that often. Breaking chairs, and stuff, on accident all the time… but that’s the first time… wait no. Technically that’s the second time I’ve seen him react so violently to sudden news,” I said.

“What was the first time?” she asked.

“At the Crypt. We found out Tim, one of the men there, had killed Frett’s baby and threatened to harm her too if she revealed the truth. Vim killed him on the spot,” I said.

“Wait…!” Meriah grabbed my arm, with a hush of a voice. “Tim? Tim, the stupid idiot mutt?” she asked quickly.

Oh no…! Had she been his friend or something? “Yes… He was actually being banished, but then revealed what he did as he left, so…” I started to explain, and hoped that Vim was in fact listening. Just in case this went badly.

Meriah squeezed my arm a little, and I noted that she did so rather strongly… but then she released me and groaned. “Frett you said? Really, Vim? Vim!” Meriah raised her voice, but didn’t hurry forward.

Vim turned a little, but kept walking. “Tim and Frett had a relationship. It went south. Tim was abusive and then got caught cheating with another woman, and when confronted threatened violence. He admitted to killing the baby not long after being banished, yes. So I ended his life,” Vim answered honestly.

“Aw… poor, poor Frett,” Meriah whispered.

I blinked and glanced at Vim, watched him look away from us, and then I glanced back at Meriah who was now gone.

Startling, I turned and found her a few feet away. She had stopped walking… and had bowed her head and clasped her hands.

Oh.

Standing still, I patiently waited as Meriah made a soft prayer for Frett and the baby… and then, after taking a small breath. “And may his soul burn eternally, amen,” she whispered, ending her prayer.

“Amen…” I courteously said as Meriah returned to walking. She reached me with a few steps, and sighed.

“Thank you for telling me Renn. I don’t get to visit that side of the world much often anymore.”

“Um… yeah.”

“What was Frett thinking? Everyone knew Tim was a mutt. The fool had more bloodlines in him than a…” she went quiet, and looked at me.

“Hm…?” I frowned at her. Why was she looking at me like that? She looked aghast.

Vim began to chuckle, drawing my eyes to him, and I glared at him even though I had no idea why I should do so.

“What…? What is it?” I asked as Vim kept laughing, and not even trying to hide it.

“I’m so sorry Renn… it was just a phrase, and… well…” Meriah apologized, and I couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Really, jeez, what it is? I don’t even know why you two are being weird,” I said.

Meriah groaned. “I was going to say a cat. That the fool had more bloodlines in him than a back alley cat. I’m sorry.”

Oh. I couldn’t help it, I laughed too. “You’re kidding, Meriah!” I said happily.

“No…! I’m sorry…!” Meriah’s face was beat red as we walked, picking up our pace a little. Vim was still many dozens of steps beyond us, but I planned now to return to his side.

“Sheesh, it’s okay. That’s funny. I’ve never really thought of it, but you’re right aren’t you? Cats are always born with all those different colors and stuff…” I mumbled as I understood how her insult worked.

“Yes. Each kitten can be sired by a different father. In fact it’s quite common in the animal kingdom. It can happen to humans too, but it’s so rare you wouldn’t know it,” Vim said from over his shoulder.

“What…? Humans too? You’re kidding. It’s rare for them to even have more than one child at a time as it is,” Meriah said.

“Right?” Vim agreed.

Huh…

As we walked, Meriah sighed and reached over to pat my arm. Where she had grabbed it earlier. She did so gently. “Sorry Renn. You were asking about Vim? How he reacts sometimes?” she asked, returning to my earlier topic. Though this time she did so without whispering.

“Yeah… I was just wondering if you found his reaction… extreme? Or not?” I asked.

“Honestly not really? I’ve seen him break trees, rocks, and buildings before. Sometimes without warning too, without any weird emotions or startle. I think he’s just too strong for his own good,” Meriah said.

I nodded slowly… but wasn’t happy to do so.

I see. So his reaction to the news hadn’t been the true reason for his strange emotional state the last few days then.

That meant it was indeed something else. Vim had even said so, after he had confirmed with Rapti what to do about the man he had killed on accident, but…

“Though… not to twist topics too much, Renn… I need to know. How do you two uh… you know?”

Vim sighed as I spent a few moments trying to understand what she meant…. Then I realized she was asking something rather odd for a traveling nun.

“He’s held me all through the night and not hurt me once. He’s better at controlling his strength than you think,” I said with a smile.

Meriah’s eyes went wide as she hurriedly looked to Vim, and I couldn’t help but smirk in victory as Vim actually groaned and reached up to cover his face.

I wasn’t sure if that was embarrassment, shame, annoyance or some mixture of them all… but I enjoyed the sight of it all the same.

After all, I hadn’t lied.

And he knew it.

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