SS [58] Scale Care Routine

The northern gatehouse was large and imposing. There were noticeably more guards on duty than Tanisha had noticed during her earlier excursion through the market districts. The city was still very much on edge. The now blackened Worldspine Gate was a scar that would take a while to heal.

Tanisha dismounted Bjorn and decided she would wait on the street corner a block from the northern gate. She leaned against the wall and just watched people as they passed. The city had returned to a bustling cacophony despite the fact that just a few hours ago a True Immortal had woken up and nearly destroyed this place. Most people did not know that, and even amongst council members few of them even believed it. 

Children chased a ball through a nearby alley. A mother carried her baby in a sling while haggling with a vegetable vendor. An old dwarf sat on the stoop of his tenement building smoking a pipe as though the world hadn't nearly ended an hour ago. To them, it had been an earthquake. Frightening, certainly, but already becoming another story to tell over supper.

To Tanisha it was a growing list of extraordinary events. Most people would never meet a True Immortal. They were the creators of mortals, world, and lords whose blessing flowed down as devotion flowed up. Yet she just rode on the back of a True while another cuddled against her. She had talked to Bjorn’s mother, a being older than her entire world. She was being hunted by an Avatar of a dead True. She survived a battle between two of them. 

“Wow, now that I think about it, I am too desensitized to this.” Tanisha muttered to herself.

“To what?” Bjorn questioned.

Tanisha switched to her native language of Valish; she didn’t want anyone overhearing their conversation casually.

“We just talked to a True, they are beings that can create and destroy worlds. In divine teachings prophets, saints and legendary people from myths only speak of them in revelation. Yet we just moved on like it wasn’t as extraordinary as it was.”

Bjorn switched just as naturally.

“You are speaking to a True right now.” Bjorn added

“You are different.” Tanisha said.

“Younger, not different.” Bjorn said with a quiet weight. “Extraordinary becomes mundane with exposure. We are all beyond the point that True Immortals are concepts. They are not some distant being you hear about in stories.”

The moment was broken when a horse reared up as a child chasing a ball ran across the street. The noise caught everyone's attention. No one was hurt thankfully. It gave Tanisha a chance for her thoughts to catch up.

“What do you mean?” Tanisha asked.

“I mean that you are now the extraordinary event that moves through other people’s lives.” Bjorn said, all five of his heads focused on her. “One day someone will tell a story about meeting you. They'll remember it for the rest of their life. To you, it will have just been another day like today.” 

Tanisha was quiet for a while after that. She remembered Adelheid mentioning something like that before. The wifwolf had only traveled with them for a short time. Even though their relationship had started out less than rough, she became someone Tanisha could count as a friend by the end. It was on that last day that Adelheid had said something Tanisha hadn't put much thought into until this moment:

“...You’re one of those people, the kind that makes big things happen. Soon enough, I’m sure you’ll be surrounded by people who can keep up with all that…”

It was short, and there was so much going on at the time that she didn’t really internalize the words. Adelheid saw something in her that was greater than that day. So far everywhere he had gone big things were happening. The Chaos Lands. Helmforað. The Force Isles. The avatar. Drakvik and the rift opening. Even there in Highhall, the politics and the Devil below the Worldspine. Everywhere so far has been one thing after another.

Aurelius survived but could Adelheid have? Was she really on some kind of destiny? 

“If you scrunch up your face like that it might get stuck that way.” Bjorn said.

Tanisha snapped back to the present and hadn't even noticed she had furrowed her brow.

“Don’t think too hard about it now, no matter what we face we will do it together,” Bjorn continued.

“Of course, Big Man.” Tanisha nodded. “Speaking of doing things together, where is Aurelius? He should be here by now.”

“I think he is taking the scenic route on purpose.” Bjorn said.

“Why? Because of the druid?” Tanisha said. “That doesn’t sound like him.”

“You didn’t notice? He is tense because of who we are going to meet,” Bjorn said. 

“Who we are going to meet? It is just a bunch of traders.” Tanisha said.

“You really haven’t noticed? Aurelius has been nervous since he found out we were going to The Empire of Postlumia. He was especially pale when he found out we were going to be travelling with—”

Tanisha interrupted with a facepalm.

“Elves. I am so stupid.” Tanisha said.

“This is going to be his first time being around other elves. He was always worried about what they would think of him… Can you find him? Before he gets here? I need to talk to him.”

“Not until he is closer. There are so many scents in the air.” Bjorn said.

“Keep a look out for him.” Tanisha said.

***

The wagon moved at a steady pace through the busy streets. Tanisha appeared standing on the seat next to Aurelius in a flash of seiðr. He flinched from the sudden appearance of a person beside him. 

“Tanisha?!” Aurelius said. “What are you doing?”

She noticed he really did look pale. He gripped on to the rein so tightly that it was like he was afraid they were the only thing keeping him grounded. She plopped down into the seat beside him without any of the grace befitting someone of the station she had been using recently.

“You alright?” Tanisha asked.

“What, yes I am fine.” Aurelius said.

Tanisha reached for the reins. He met his hands and they sat together for a moment.

“I can drive.” Tanisha said.

Aurelius was trying very hard to not look at her as he took a deep breath. He squeezed the line one final time before releasing it. He lowered his head.

“Okay.” He said.

They were quiet again for a long moment. Then Tanisha felt a tail wrap around her waist. She didn’t say anything, she just sat a little closer to him and her tail wrapped around him as well.

“You know.” Tanisha said, breaking the silence. “I have seen you take on a S-17 by yourself.”

“Metal monsters are different,” Aurelius said. 

“In the end you were about to try to fight two Divines just for a chance to save your family.” Tanisha said.

“Yeah, that wouldn't have been my best plan. But I would have done it.” Aurelius said.

“See, so why are you so worried about meeting a bunch of travelers we don’t even know?” Tanisha asked.

“What if they reject me? This is the first time I am meeting another elf. What if they sense my primana and think I am some monster or freak?” Aurelius questioned. “We are going to Postlumia, I am going to be surrounded by people like me for the first time but what if they think I don’t belong?”

“Then fuck’em.” Tanisha said. “You are great the way you are. Aurelius Lyns,  monster hunter, caravan guide, party leader, son of the Force Isles not Postlumia. You're Speedy, the man I've trusted to keep me alive more times than I can count.  If these elves think you're strange, guess what? They don’t matter. Because you have people that care about you.” She leaned on him and she felt him lean back. “Besides, I think you're strange and I still like you.”

“Thanks.” Aurelius said.

“You're welcome. And next time you are going into an existential crisis alone let me know. You try to keep too much bottled up you know.” Tanisha said.

“So do you.” Aurelius said.

“No, I talk to Sonr Orma Eilífra about my problems.” Tanisha said.

“Does prayer count?” Aurelius questioned.

“Mine count,” Tanisha shrugged. “Lots of people pray, but my True actually answers.”

Another voice cut in. 

“Not to ruin the moment but we are coming up on the gate where is Bjorn?” Soren asked.

He was walking alongside the wagon and Tanisha had purposefully ignored his presence all together. She didn’t want to answer the druid but it was a fair question.

“He is up ahead at the next block. I told him to wait.” Tanisha said.

“Alright then. Let’s do this.” Aurelius said.

***

The caravan stretched beyond the northern gate like a small town preparing to uproot itself. Wagons stood wheel to wheel while ox panthers were watered and fed. Guards checked harnesses, merchants shouted inventories, and laborers hurried crates from one wagon to another. The entire camp hummed with practiced efficiency. 

There were far more people than Tanisha thought there would be. At least fifteen wagons, and six carriages alongside an armed guard to dissuade any potential bandits and eliminate any wayward monsters.

Torik did tell her that these people would be setting up a new business in the empire. With conflict on the horizon he must have wanted to make sure that they had the majority of the people that would be stationed in Postlumia there before the border conflict escalated. 

Aurelius's tail tightened around her waist and he sat up straighter. While she was busy counting wagons he was looking at something else entirely. She followed his gaze and there they were, Elves. Just as Torik had said the majority of the caravan were elves with a few humans sprinkled in and at least one lamia woman. 

Their wagon came to a stop at about the midpoint of the large caravan. An elven man had rushed out from somewhere deep inside the mass of travellers. He was tall with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, he dressed in a lavish suit. Flanking him was the lamia woman who had light armor and a long spear and on his other flank another elf man in practical travel gear.

When they reached them the blonde elf spoke first. To his credit he didn’t seem perturbed to stand close to Bjorn while he spoke.

“Hail, Princess and young masters.” The man said with a bow of his head. “My name is Rufinus Fulvius, I am the manager of expansion into imperial territory. I will also be the executive over the new branch of the Runeforge Consortium. This is our Logistician Numerius Pompeius he will make sure we get to our destination on time and with as few hiccups as possible. Finally but most certainly not least, this is Ismene… forgive me I am not sure her family name.”

“Horatius, your majesty.” The woman said with a bow of her head.

“Ah right, I apologize. Ismene Horatius, she is the commander of the Martial Lions Security Group that will be escorting us.”

“It is nice to meet you all. I am sure you all know our names but I will introduce us all the same. I am Tanisha Scalebound. With me are Aurelius Lyns. Bjorn and Anasuya Scalebound. There is no reason to call me by any titles while I am here. I am merely a traveler seeing the world.”

They seemed to nod in understanding. Ismene immediately looked at Soren with a suspicious glance.

“Is he not part of your group?” Ismene asked.

Tanisha could feel the lamia’s mana coiled around the end of her spear though she made no move to attack. Tanisha considered lying and getting the druid forcibly ejected from their caravan. However she had already agreed that he could come along.

“That is Soren. He is with us.” Tanisha muttered. “Regrettably.”

Soren rolled his eyes. Actually rolled his eyes at her. Before she could say anything the conversation had already moved past it.

“How did you know it was us?” Bjorn asked.

“Not many people walk around with a Hydra familiar.” Rufinus said.

“We were also given a detailed description of each of you.” Ismene clarified.

“Right, well, you all are here far sooner than expected.” Numerius said. “If possible we would like to move out as soon as we can. We will have you all in the middle of the caravan. We can have one of our spare drivers handle your wagon if you would like to just ride along. Cornelius is good with ox panthers.”

Aurelius hadn’t said a word since the introductions began. His gaze never quite settled on any one elf for long before darting away again. His aura was drawn so tightly inward that even Tanisha could barely sense it despite sitting beside him. 

“Breath.” She said quietly.

Aurelius let out a shaky breath. Good enough.

“We will be fine for the first stretch. Maybe after that we will take you up on that spare driver.” Tanisha said.

There were a few more pleasantries then Rufinus and Ismene dispersed to their individual tasks to get their groups ready for departure. Numerius remained behind to explain the practicalities of caravan travel: where they would ride in the column, what to do if they were attacked, where they would resupply, and who to listen to if something went wrong. 

It was a lot of information but it essentially boiled down to, just follow the person in front of you and stop when we stop. If something or someone attacks them let the Martial Lions handle it. The trip is going to take Fifteen days.

When Numerius finally left after ensuring they were in the right spot three, no, four times, Aurelius could finally breathe for real. His eyes still flicked toward every elf in sight, but none of them pointed at him, rejected him, or whispered that he was cursed. In fact, the one drawing everyone's attention wasn't him. It wasn't even Tanisha, the foreign princess.

It was Bjorn.

“See.” Tanisha whispered to him. “None of us are beating the five headed wonder when it comes to attention.”

“Little jealous?” Aurelius said though there was still some tension in his voice.

“Uh, kind of. Like, I am the princess here.” Tanisha said.

“It take more than titles to turn heads,” Bjorn said. “Would you like my scale care routine?”

“I am your scale care routine!” Tanisha said, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “I am the one that makes sure you are presentable.”

Aurelius laughed, it was soft but his tail finally loosened a bit.

“Thanks guys,” Aurelius said. “Bjorn is immaculate by the way. So, it is your fault he is getting all the side glances and not you.”