It wasn’t as blue of a building as I had expected.

The large two story building was one of the biggest in this section of the market. It had huge windows on the first floor, but none on the second. And there were large fences between the building and the stores next to it on either side, likely hiding large gardens and workplaces.

This section of the market was busier than the northern one I had checked last night, but it was still lacking. Most of the people walking around seemed to be the workers going to work more than anything.

But that was likely simply because it was early morning.

“Hm…” Renn hummed as she stepped forward, to draw closer to the largest window. One full of display cases and racks. Showcasing their wares.

Keeping an eye on her for a moment, I studied the way she held the child. The boy was still asleep, luckily, and looked far too comfortable and content in her arms.

Sighing I looked back to the building. The blue shade of paint was faded. Dull. It had likely been panted years ago by the looks of it. It needed a new coat of paint.

“They do sell more than just bowls,” Renn said as she studied one of the largest plates. It was rather reflective in the morning sunlight.

“Anything’s a bowl if you try hard enough,” I said.

I noticed Renn’s hat shift, and I smiled at the way she glared at my reflection in the window.

Stepping forward, I went to the main door of the building. It was shut, but I wasn’t sure if it was simply because it was too early or because of the plague. Several of the other shops around here were already open, if lacking in customers.

Upon our nearing of the building we had seen smoke coming not from one chimney, but two, so there was definitely people inside. Odds were the owners of the shop lived on the second floor of the building.

“You’re sure they’ll take care of him?” Renn asked quickly as she stepped over to me.

“They’re his family, Renn,” I said.

Renn frowned at me in a way that told me she didn’t believe such a thing guaranteed anything. It told me a lot about her perceptive of family, or rather her experience with such people.

But honestly I hadn’t meant it that way. I hadn’t said such a thing as to imply that such a thing meant they’d take care of him properly… but rather…

Well…

Glancing at the young child in her arms, I did my best to not let the way she clung to him so dearly bother me. Especially when it really shouldn’t.

If anything I should be glad she was the type of person to care for a child’s well being. Especially so since she’s a predator.

Most of her ancestors would have eaten the boy, not cared for it. The had rarely cared for their own, let alone some random child that wasn’t theirs.

Going up to the door, I gave it a few knocks. I didn’t knock too hard, but upon hearing the banging I realized I had hit it a tad too hard.

At least nothing broke.

Sighing as I stepped back, to stand next to Renn, I wondered how this was going to go.

Landi had given me this families tax records. They had bought their way out of serfdom generations ago. They weren’t the wealthiest merchants, but they were far from poor. Plus their family was big. Big enough that they had purchased another house a few streets down a few years ago.

The records the Nation of Stone kept weren’t good enough to know who exactly lived in that house, other than it was just one of the sons. Their census took into account the family sizes, but only recorded how many sons were born. Daughters were just numbers on a ledger, nothing more, here.

“Mhm…” Renn made a noise, and then I heard it. Footsteps. Smooth leather on old wood.

The door clanked, and promptly opened to reveal a younger woman. Too young to be the owner of this building.

“Yes…?” she frowned at the sight of us. “We don’t open for another two hours,” she added before I could say anything.

“I’m sure. Is the master in?” I asked, before Renn’s obvious thoughts escaped her lips.

The young girl’s frown deepened. “Grandmother is. Why?”

She once again studied me. Looking me up and down.

Yes. I know. I didn’t look important enough to be knocking on a proprietary’s door so early in the morning, and acting so haughty.

I know.

“My name is Vim. If you’d please let me speak with her for a moment, I’d appreciate it. It’s concerning one of her relatives,” I said.

Suddenly I wasn’t something to be doubted. The woman’s eyes perked up and she stepped forward. “Who? Did someone get hurt?” she asked quickly.

Shoot. She wasn’t an employee, but a daughter.

Mentally kicking myself I raised a hand and tried to smile gently. “It’s best if I speak with the head of the household first,” I said.

“She’s here.”

An older version of the young girl stepped around the corner, revealing herself. She looked tired.

Sick even.

Yet she hadn’t sounded sick, nor did she have spots on her.

“You’re the head of the family?” I asked her.

She nodded… and then sighed. “I’ve been expecting this. Come in. At least have tea before you break my heart,” the woman said as she turned as to head back inside.

Before I could regain control of the conversation, Renn stepped forward.

She stepped through the door without hesitation, and I held back a groan.

Great. This could have been so quick and easy…

Following Renn into the craftsman’s house, it was I who had to close the front door since the young woman had hurried to follow her grandmother instead.

“My name is Renn,” Renn introduced herself as I glanced around.

“Renn…? Odd name. I’m Verla, and this is…” the young girl introduced herself, and her grandmother, but I stopped listening as I studied the little shop.

Or well… it wasn’t little. About half the first floor was an open shop area. Full of stands and display shelves for their works. The vast majority were indeed bowls. Of all shapes and colors and styles. But there were a few other non-bowl items too. Plates, utensils, even…

Pausing in front of a small rack, I stared at the combs being showcased upon it.

Right… I had thought of getting Renn one for her tail.

Studying them, I decided none would work. They were finely made, and colorful which Renn would like… but these wouldn’t suit Renn’s tail. Most of these were to make hair seem fuller. Not something suitable for the fur on her tail, which was more smooth and silky than not.

But…

Where would I get her one that would suit her tail, actually…?

Or rather, where would I find one suitable for her that wasn’t originally intended for an animal? Like a farm animal or something?

I’d not feel good getting her something like that.

“Momma!” a small cry drew my attention and eyes away from the rack of combs, and down a nearby hallway.

Renn had given the baby to a new woman. One I’d not seen yet. She had fallen to her knees, clutching the baby as she cried.

Frowning, I stepped forward as I studied the situation. It looked… fine, relatively.

There were four women now. The older one, the owner of this place, was staring wide-eyed at Renn. She was up against a table, using it for support. She was shocked. The woman Renn had handed off the baby to, the one on the floor… resembled somewhat the woman who had given us the baby the other night. She had the same hair.

Had she been the one to cry out mother? Or had that been the younger girl…?

I should have been paying more attention…

As I approached, more people showed up. A few were dressed in thin clothes. The type of silks that told me they had just jumped out of bed upon hearing the commotion. Others however were already grimy from work. There was likely some kind of clay work area nearby, if not in the house itself. Maybe in the back. One of the men who walked into the room had dried clay caking his arms.

Without saying anything, or joining the conversation, I studied and examined the family. I wasn’t sure how many were relatives of the boy… but it didn’t matter. In places like this, employees were basically family too. Most folks in this era, and especially here in this nation, worked the same job their whole lives. Half the time marrying into it.

“Thank you…!” the woman on her knees reached up, to grab Renn’s hand. Even while clinging to the baby, she still grabbed at Renn as to shake her hand.

Renn looked rather uncomfortable as she accepted the gratitude. The others drew closer, to see the baby. To assault Renn with hundreds of questions.

I let her handle it for a moment as I studied the older woman. The one still leaning against the table for support.

Yes. She was weary. But was it from age or disease…?

I blinked as I realized it didn’t matter.

“Blasted Witch!”

My eyes left the old woman and focused on the man who had yelled. The one with clay on his arms.

He was quickly growing upset. Rather, he was already upset. His voice grew louder as he began to complain about the tyrannical witch, but he wasn’t able to get his whole spiel out. Other family members pushed him out of the room, back down the hallway to the other side of the house.

“Please. He’s… he loved his sister,” one of the women said.

Renn didn’t seem to know what to say so she looked to me. Because of it, the whole room followed her gaze.

“We don’t necessarily know what happened to her, or the others. I’d recommend finding out from the watch,” I hesitated when I noticed one of the woman’s expressions. She hadn’t understood what I meant. “The guards. They could still be in quarantine,” I said.

“May it be so,” the older woman nodded.

Ignoring Renn’s look, I gestured to the boy. Or rather, the woman on the ground… still on her knees in front of Renn.

“We’ve fed and tendered him. But he’ll likely be hungry once he…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence as he woke up.

As the boy began to cry, I wondered how it had taken this long for him to do so. Not only had the woman holding him been squeezing him, it’d been noisy. But oh well. A good excuse.

Renn got another handshake, from another woman, as the older one stepped away from the table. To me.

Watching her approach, I decided she might be sick… but not of the plague tormenting the area.

Rather her sickness might be more of the heart than body.

“I thank you. We are in your debt,” she said to me.

Gesturing softly, I shrugged at her. “Who’d do anything different?” I asked her.

The old woman smiled in a way that told me she knew full well I didn’t believe in what I had said. Just as she didn’t.

Sighing I nodded. “Here. I’m assuming it was your daughter?” I asked as I dug out the small purse.

“Yes. She was,” the old lady said softly.

Holding out the small leather pouch, I smiled and waited for the old woman to take it.

She studied it, and then looked up at me. Yet didn’t take it.

“It was hers,” I said.

“I know. I made it for her,” she said.

I shifted the bag, to make it jingle a little.

Not a single coin was missing. Though I knew from experience that they’d never believe it.

“Keep it,” she then said.

I shook my head. “To me that’d be as wrong as not bringing him home,” I said to her.

The old woman studied me for a moment, but before I could say more I noticed Renn had headed for me. She was done being thanked.

Stepping to the left, I placed the small purse onto a counter. One built into the wall. It was likely something they sometimes used to display products, yet it was empty right now.

“Sir…” the older woman wanted to complain, but I ignored her as Renn stepped up to us.

“He was hungry,” Renn said happily.

Oh…? She was a little flushed, but not a tear in sight.

Wonderful. I wonder if she really was improving… or if she’d start bawling once we left.

Looking away from Renn, I turned to the old woman and nodded. “We’ll be off then. Forgive us, but we’ve duties to attend and little time,” I said.

“Aye. Business doesn’t stop. Even when the world is on fire. I know,” the old woman smiled as she nodded.

“Goodbye. Watch your hair, he likes to pull it,” Renn warned her.

The old woman laughed, and I pretended to not notice the tears in her eyes as I turned away and headed for the door.

Leaving the shop, I had to usher Renn a little. The old woman kept trying to keep the conversation going.

“Thank you…! Really…!” the old woman continued to thank us as we left, heading down the road.

“You didn’t have to leave so quickly Vim,” Renn said as she waved goodbye to the family of bowl makers.

“Yes I did. Otherwise you’d be adopted, or have adopted them, or who knows what else,” I said as I shivered at the idea.

Renn smirked at me as she finally waved one last time and turned forward, to walk alongside me. “Is now a good time to tell you I thought about asking you to keep the boy? If that hadn’t been his family, I mean,” she threatened.

“Never is a good time for that,” I said stiffly. Such a worry had kept me up all night. Which was saying something for once, since I was actually tired.

She nodded and laughed at me.

As we left the blue building behind, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes. I’m glad that went so well and easy, too,” Renn said happily.

Yes. Though my relief was for different reasons, likely.

“Though… Vim… Are you sure he’ll be fine?” she asked.

“Yes Renn. They’re his family. Not us. Our meeting and moment with him was pure happenstance. He belongs there, with them, not with us,” I said.

“Ah… I mean… yes. I guess… but I more so meant, will he be safe? A few of them were sick, weren’t they?” she asked.

Glancing at Renn, I noted the look in her eyes.

I see. She had noticed.

Of course she had.

“I noticed, yes. But I’m… hoping it was just emotional stress, more than simple disease. None of them had spots, after all,” I said.

“I think the man did. He hid them, with the clay on his arms,” Renn said as she lifted her own arms, as if to display how he had done so.

Slowly coming to a stop, I frowned.

“You didn’t notice…? Though I might be wrong. But the spots are rather big, and…” Renn suddenly started doubting herself, but I knew better than to think she had simply misunderstood.

Renn may not know much about disease, but her attention to detail was second to none. If she saw spots, she saw them.

I sighed as I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

Renn said nothing, but I felt her staring at me.

“It’s always something…” I mumbled. That was likely why he had been so vocal about his feelings about how Landi was handling it. That hadn’t just been anger over the boy and his mother’s fate, but his own.

Lowering my hand, I glanced around. We weren’t far from the building. About half a block away. And the market was starting to pick up in traffic too, there was even a horse led cart heading our way.

“Had you noticed, and hoped I’d not…?” Renn asked softly.

“No. I’d not noticed. But I hadn’t been looking. To be honest I had even kind of… ignored most of your conversation with them. I hadn’t wanted to get involved,” I admitted.

“I could tell. I handled it for you, Vim,” Renn said gently.

Yes. She had.

“This is where I say we’ve done our job, Renn. We brought him home. Safely. From here his fate is in his hands or well… his families,” I said.

“He’s just a baby, Vim. He can’t hold anything with his little hands,” she whispered.

“I said his families,” I said, reminding her I had corrected myself.

She smiled at me, but it was a sad smile. One I didn’t like to see on her face.

Shifting, I held her gaze… and waited.

Renn stared into my eyes for a long moment, and as she did I wondered how many of our members looked at me in such a way anymore. There used to be more, back in the beginning. Those who stared at me, not the protector.

The me she saw was Vim. Not some story or legend. Not some… thing… but a person.

And that was why she was willing to stare at me with eyes of judgment. Even a bit of disappointment.

“I honestly don’t know what to say or do. If we took him… what then would you say about the other children? Would we help him, but not any of the others? Even though we can? Or would you argue that since fate placed him into my arms, he is… or was… more special…?” Renn asked as she looked down to her arms.

“Don’t read that deeply into it Renn,” I warned her.

She shook her head. “I know… but I still do. I can’t help it.”

“Before you say anymore… consider what it would mean to take him now,” I said.

Her hat shifted, and I noted how much it had done so. Maybe she was lacking in those pins. This time it had shifted to a point that it worried me.

“Take him now…” she mumbled as she began to ponder it.

I nodded, and stayed silent as I let her dwell on it.

It didn’t take her long. But it was interesting to watch her face contort from confusion, to worry, to strained relief.

“We’d have to take him by force, now,” she whispered as she realized it.

I nodded. “They’ll be even more protective of him now. Especially since they’re blaming Landi. They might think we some scheme or something, likely,” I said.

Renn sighed. “You’ve called her a witch before too,” she said.

“That’s what they think she is, after all,” I said as I gestured for her to return to walking with me.

She obliged, and I kept my relief from showing itself on my face as we began to walk again.

Thank goodness. She’d not ask me to go take the boy back.

I had half expected it to be honest. Renn… likely because of her predator blood-line, seemed very overprotective of things she claimed as her own.

It was a good thing I had chosen to bring the boy home as quickly as possible. If I had left her with him for too long, she might have grown to see him as her own.

“Because she’s lived so long,” she said as she understood.

“That and her strength. She’s strong like you… and enjoys using that strength, too,” I said.

I thought of the times Renn and I sparred, or I had her training. Like back at the smithy.

She had enjoyed it too. I’ll need to be careful from here on out, to keep her from learning the thrill of battle.

“Hm… She seems fine to me, honestly. She reminds me of Brandy, in a way,” Renn said.

Raising an eyebrow, I tried to imagine how she had come to such a conclusion.

“Her breasts aren’t that big,” I said as I thought of Landi.

Renn giggled at me and nudged me with an elbow. “I knew you’d say something like that!” she said happily.

Enjoying her laugh for a moment, I glanced around us. This city was as I remembered it from my many other visits. Stone roads and alleyways. Stone buildings. A hot sun, made hotter by all the rocks and the lack of trees or grass.

But it really was… a little empty. There were a few people walking around, becoming active, but it was a far cry from the bustling city I remembered.

This place should be like Lumen. Crowded. Noisy.

Yet it was quiet and quaint enough that Renn and I were strolling leisurely, and able to talk softly.

We rounded a corner, turning onto a smaller street. One not suited for carts or wagons. The ground became more decorated, and lamps began to appear.

A road of homes. Living quarters.

I studied the homes we passed for a moment, but eventually grew bored of them. So I turned my attention to Renn. She was more than happy to examine the houses we passed, focusing on them entirely.

“It’s quiet but… it doesn’t look that bad,” Renn said softly.

“There’s definitely a lack of people. But they might all just be afraid to wander around too much,” I said.

“Hm…” she nodded, and a small crowd drew my attention from her.

At the end of the road was a small platoon. Armed guards on patrol.

Renn noticed them too, and I noticed that she stepped a little closer to me as we walked. “Vim?” she asked.

“They’re just on patrol,” I said.

Sure enough they didn’t even acknowledge us as we passed one another. Only a few had even glanced at us. Or rather, at Renn.

As they headed away, I paused as Renn stopped to study them for a moment longer.

She did seem to enjoy staring at the guards here. I wonder what she found so fascinating about them?

“I’ve seen knights and stuff patrol, but never like this,” she said.

Ah. So it wasn’t they themselves she found interesting, but what they were doing.

“They’re likely on guard for the disease,” I said.

She nodded, but still kept her eyes on them as she pondered something.

Studying her, who studied them, I watched as her pupils contracted and her eyes narrowed.

It was a good thing humans weren’t the most observant creatures. Her pupils really were unique.

“Are… are the people here slaves, Vim?” Renn then asked.

Frowning, I shook my head… but stopped as I realized to her they very well might be.

“Rather here people are serfs. It’s why money is so precious here, not everyone earns actual money. It’s why those guards had been so happy to oblige me over a few coins,” I said.

Renn shifted, and once again I noticed her hat move a little too much. “But… that family. They sell bowls,” she said as she pointed down the road we had just come from.

I nodded. “They do. They do have money here, Renn. But a little more than half the population are serfs in servitude. They’re owned by Landi. They get paid, but such a small amount that they likely can’t even afford a single one of those bowls,” I explained.

Renn frowned at me. “All the houses look nice though?” she said as she looked around.

Well… “One can be a serf and still live lavishly, Renn. Although considered a witch, Landi isn’t necessarily hated or despised on a grand scale. She actually takes care of her people,” I said carefully.

Although I’d decided to be more open with her, I didn’t want to change Renn’s belief system too much. I needed her to have her own beliefs. Her own desires and morals, not mere copies of my own.

“These people don’t seem like slaves to me,” Renn said softly.

“Because in the truest sense they’re not. Their slavery is one of a contract. They, in families, agree to work and dedicate their lives to a job. In return they get a house, food, water, security… and rations of supplies and desires fulfilled. As I said, they do also even get paid. Just… a small amount. Most even eventually buy their freedom, which is inherited by their children,” I said.

“Yet they’re still slaves,” she said.

I nodded. “In a way. But one could argue everyone is. Here they’re slaves to Landi. Those in Lumen are slaves to coins. In Telmik they’re slaves to their religion. Men enslaved to their desires. Women to their wills. Everyone is a slave to something, in some form,” I said.

“And you to the Society,” Renn said.

Blinking, I frowned at the woman who was staring at me with a rather serious expression.

“Well… yes,” I admitted.

Exactly. I’m glad she understood.

“For a man who values freedom and free-will, you’re sure defending something completely against it,” Renn argued.

I blinked at her, and couldn’t help but smile. “Funny,” I said.

Renn though didn’t smile back. “I hadn’t intended it to be so.”

Nodding, I sighed. “I know… I…” I stopped talking, and realized I was about to have a very peculiar conversation with her.

One I’ve only had with a few people in the Society.

Not just because I tried to usually avoid such conversations and topics, but also because so few people had the mind to comprehend it. They weren’t able to look past that which they took for granted.

Only a few members in all the years have ever brought it up, and even fewer had the perspective to actually debate and talk to me about it.

One of which wasn’t far from us. At the Salt Flats.

She and Renn would likely be quite a pair… maybe I should take her there to visit before we headed north? This wasn’t one of the times I’d usually go there, but…

“Vim…?” Renn drew me out of my thoughts, and I nodded quickly.

“You are right. Very so. I do not like it. I don’t like what Landi is doing, or how she does it,” I said.

“But…” Renn waited for the rest.

“But…” I nodded. “I… well…” I hesitated.

Should I tell her?

Renn’s golden eyes held my own. Waiting. Expecting. They looked lovely.

“I once forced my will, Renn. On others,” I said carefully.

Renn blinked, and her beautiful golden orbs shifted a little. The pupils widened. The gleam became glossier. “Forced…?”

I nodded. “I made a decision. For… well…” How did I say everyone and everything, without admitting to it? “Well, the world,” I said.

“The world…” Renn whispered.

“My actions. My deed… what I did then, is something of great argument,” I said. “I used to… ask others. What they thought of it. Back during the beginning. But over time I stopped, since I realized something horrible,” I continued.

“Ask what…?” she asked gently.

“If what I had done was right or not. If my actions had been the right ones. If the world was better for it or not,” I said.

Renn blinked, and somehow looked sad. As if she somehow knew about what I had done. As if she somehow knew everything. But that was impossible.

Right…?

Coughing, I shifted and gestured around us. “I could change this. I could. Be it by force or not, I could… as you would say, free these people,” I said.

Renn nodded.

“But… the cost of doing so, would be great,” I said.

I pointed to the nearest house. It was only one story, but it had a garden. It was small, but cozy. Well kept. Something that I knew the owners took a lot of pride in; just by the way they made sure everything was in tip top shape. Their windows were spotless. The stone path to the door was bright and stainless. The few plants they had in the small section of lawn were also trimmed and well manicured. “The people who live there. Even if serfs, even if slaves… are living happy lives. Right now it’s hard, yes, because of the plague… but before that, and after it passes, their lives will be somewhat good. They have a home. They need not worry over food or water. They don’t need to worry over raiders or brigands. They need not worry about war or natural disasters,” I said.

Renn, being the wise woman she was, quickly understood my meaning. Her eyes dulled a little, and her head lowered. I knew if her hat wasn’t blocking them from view, I’d be seeing her ears droop too.

Nodding, I sighed. “If I freed them from this supposed slavery… they’d lose all that. My actions would free them, but the cost would be all of this. And after it’s all said and done… well… would they honestly be any better off?” I asked her.

“They’d be like the towns we passed coming here,” Renn whispered.

I nodded, very glad that Renn was smart enough to understand.

“I don’t like it Renn. And if one time I come here… and found the humans all revolting against Landi, trying to overthrow her… I’d side with them in an instant. But for now, right now, Landi although cruel and a tyrant… is honestly the better option for them. Like the way she is handling the plague. Although cruel beyond measure, her methods are likely the only reason this place is still functioning as well as it is. Even if many will hate and blame her, the fact of the matter is with her resources and abilities this is the better outcome. The better path. Thanks to her there is order in chaos. Food is still available. Water is still flowing. Society hasn’t crumbled here, like elsewhere,” I said.

Renn shifted, and her eyes meandered around me. Not really focusing on anything in particular. “Your belief in free will is so firm, you believe if people are accepting and happy… even with slavery, then it’s okay,” she said.

“In a form,” I admitted.

She didn’t seem too upset with my own views of life, but I could tell she had some grievances with it. I wonder if she’d voice them or not.

Waiting, I was a little surprised it took her so long to do so. Several people walked past us as we stood, silently, staring at each other.

“You… changed the world once. Did what happened afterward bother you so much, that you gave up from ever doing so again?” she asked me.

So that was what she’d focus on? Of all things…?

“In a fashion, I suppose, yes,” I admitted.

“But Vim… You do still change the world. Your very words, or actions, change things all the time. You end lives. You change them. You save them, and not just when it concerns us either,” she listed as she gestured around us.

“Only when I’m forced to,” I corrected her.

Renn’s mouth closed, then opened again to argue… but no words came. Instead she just stood there, staring at me.

“I long ago decided to never change the world without purpose. Take that little boy for example. I… took him, yes. But I’d not have helped or saved him had his mother not approached and begged for it. Don’t forget Renn, I sat there next to you as we watched soldiers slaughter and burn many people. People I could have saved,” I told her.

Golden eyes gleamed as she nodded, understanding. “I know Vim,” she said softly.

“You can find fault in it Renn. I know what I do is wrong, but it’s a life I’ve chosen,” I said.

She shook her head. “I admit I… don’t like it. But I understand it. You can’t force your will on everyone, since that goes against your beliefs. Even if by being so, others suffer because of it,” she said.

Well… “You can reason it away Renn, but the faults and failures of my stance can’t be ignored,” I said.

She sighed and nodded. “I’ll ponder it…” then she crossed her arms as she started pondering. “So… Hark is a slave?” she asked.

“Well no. His family bought their freedom generations ago. Four, if I remember correctly,” I said as I thought of their tax record.

“How do you know that?” she asked.

“I looked at Landi’s records, while you two were getting all smoochy,” I said.

Renn’s frown contorted into a wry smile. “Smoochy,” she said happily.

Turning, as to return us onto our path, I nodded. “I basically looked up their family records. What little Landi keeps, at least,” I explained further.

Renn hurried to join me, and seemed excited. “So you did worry,” she said happily.

My eyes narrowed a little, but I didn’t let her teasing bother me too much. “I’m not so heartless that I’d abandon a baby to suffer, if possible,” I defended myself.

She giggled at me, but said nothing.

Yes. I know. I’m a walking hypocrite.

We walked in silence for a moment, until we left the street of houses and found another larger intersection. One that led back to the market we had left, or away from it and back towards Landi’s castle.

Deciding to head back to the castle, Renn and I headed down the northern road.

“Are we not going to check the city, Vim?” Renn asked.

“I did last night. While you were with Landi,” I said.

Renn hummed, and I wondered if I shouldn’t have. Glancing at her, I wasn’t too surprised to find her smile gone.

“I had been worried over the disease Renn. I checked to make sure it was safe enough for you to venture out,” I said to her.

Plus to be honest I had wanted to give the two a little alone time. Landi had so few members in the Society she could talk to… and well…

It seemed that Renn too would need every friend she could get.

She blinked at me, and nodded. “I figured, Vim. I was more so just realizing that you still… sneak away without me noticing. I thought I’d gotten better at keeping track of you. I hadn’t noticed you even left long enough for you to do such a thing,” she said.

Oh…?

Renn smirked and nodded again. “Maybe it’s because Landi’s so fascinating,” she said.

I huffed at her. “Fascinating, sure.”

“She is. Did you know she’s looking for a mate?” Renn asked.

My eye twitched. “I assumed, yes.” Hard not to. That was why she was banished from everywhere, after all.

“You’re cute when jealous. But you don’t need to worry. She wants one as to have children. I’d not be able to help her there,” Renn said happily.

I blinked the twitch away. “She wants children…?” I asked as I slowed.

I had known of Landi’s recent fascination. It had started when she had enslaved those two men. The porcupines.

One was still alive. I had checked on him earlier. Still alive, and still happily enslaved. Unwilling to let me free him.

I had thought they had been simple play things for her. Landi had always been… eccentric. So her having a harem had never been weird to me. But I had thought it had been just simple decadence. Simple pleasure and fun.

If those men had been for another purpose…

And…

A lot of things made sense all of a sudden, as my mind whirled at the possibilities.

“Vim…?” Renn slowed to a stop, as I did.

“Should I intervene…?” I whispered to myself.

“Intervene how?” Renn asked worriedly.

I blinked, and remembered Renn was here. Woops.

I took a small breath, and noted Renn’s smell. It calmed me down a little… even though I could still smell Hark on her still. She needed a bath now.

“Actually let’s go make a stop first, if you’re okay with it,” I said.

“Hm?” she smiled as she tilted her head at me.

Staring into those golden pupils, I felt a little relieved.

I was glad the boy had been easily returned to his family. I was glad that Renn hadn’t ended up burdened with him.

Yet most importantly I was glad that Renn was the type to actually worry and help in such a way… but also was detached enough to not fight me on handing him over.

I had somewhat expected her to, honestly. But… maybe her decision to not fall for humans had been a firm one. One she’d not fight, at least for the time being.

Turning back around, as to head back to the shopping district, I reached out to put my hand on her back. To guide her next to me.

Before my hand reached her back though, her arm slipped into mine.

Glancing at the woman who happily wrapped her arm into mine as she took my side… I kept myself from saying or doing anything that’d hurt her heart.

I hadn’t wanted to get this close to her this quickly…

“Where we going?” she asked happily.

Sighing softly, I nodded and let it be. For now.

“To get supplies,” I said as I took her back to the marketplace.

A fitting distraction, from my own personal failures.

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