The Golden Seashell had a pleasant courtyard to one side of the rge structure, ringed by a casual waist-high wooden-rail fence and neatly-spaced trees; in the centre was a fountain with tiers of seashells in various colours of gss, which I found strikingly beautiful.
To wait for the others, I settled down in the courtyard in one of the grassy patches. The alert staff had made sure that, after a very filling sandwich for lunch, I had a cup of a tasty fruit drink and a bowl of mixed nuts and seeds and little baked crunchy bits to snack on. I had plenty to think about, and my begleri toy to py with to keep my hands busy. The sun was warm, but just enough of the breeze from the coast reached here to moderate the heat.
It didn’t matter how long it took either of my friends to get back. I could wait here, comfortable and content, without any reason at all to be impatient.
Aryennos dragged a chair over beside me and dropped into it, nearly upsetting the small low table that held my drink and snack.
“You look energetic,” I observed. “Did you have a good time in the library?”
“Wonderful,” he said. “And I didn’t tell them about you, just that I was doing research because I want to write a comprehensive up-to-date book that puts together as much information as we have on the subject. The most senior librarian is very interested and I promised to keep her updated by mail and send a copy as soon as I finish it. You did say you want it avaible for any future newcomers.”
“Absolutely. Someone else might not get as lucky in finding friends. What did you find?”
“Some history, mostly about the Zombie King. Most of what exists is about children who are born here and grow up with no ability to access memories of earlier lifetimes, and the specution about whether there’s just something in their brains or psyches that prevents it, or a traumatic event that causes them to not want to remember, or maybe they just don’t have anything to remember. There are the usual stories about the Quincunx but it’s hard to pin anything down beyond someone hearing from a friend that their cousin’s ex-co-worker’s aunt just got tired of everything and decided to try to find a way out. No one keeps records on that kind of thing. Maybe they do. Maybe something else happens. Maybe people just move somewhere far away and start a new life. Who knows?”
It was trickier to just disappear off the grid at home, but here, there really was no grid to speak of.
“I want to ask, but I also don’t want you to have to repeat it for Serru. I suppose I can wait.”
“All right. But you might be able to answer a question no one else has.”
“If I can.”
“When the Zombie King showed up, the Moss Queen had already been established for a long time. There’s no record of her ever doing this, only him. Multiple accounts of him back when people ever actually talked to him say that he did some strange things. He started hitting barrels and other containers with a stick very early, and demanding that someone sell him something described as an oversized knife. He apparently got very frustrated that no one would, but no one knew what he was talking about. Eventually he stole an axe and began to attack people with it if he perceived them as unhelpful. And he kept calling everyone by some term no one has ever been able to transte but it seems to have been an insult. Phonetically, it sounds something like empeesee?”
Empeesee?
Oh dear god. Any of them. All of them.
How was I supposed to even begin to expin what the Zombie King had obviously been thinking?
It was a good time for an interruption.
The interruption was one of the Seashell’s human staff, escorting an orange-and-white felid. I felt bad I didn’t have the trick of telling felids apart by anything but fur colour yet, although in my defence, the number I’d met fit on one hand even including myself. I thought it was the little calico’s father, though.
He saw me and brightened visibly, his strides speeding up so he was ahead of his escort.
“Healer! I didn’t thank you properly earlier, and I’m sorry.”
“It’s absolutely understandable,” I said. I considered getting up, but I was taller than Aryennos and the felid was shorter, so it was probably better if I stayed where I was instead of looming over him. “Is your daughter... Irami, was it? Is she all right?”
“She’s very well, thanks to you. We heard all about the whole accident from the neighbours who were there. We’re all very grateful that you were there to save her from any further pain or fear.”
“I’m gd I happened to be there and that it wasn’t worse than it was.”
“Please.” He pulled the strap of a bag over his head and held it out to me. “You left some of your things in the mini...”
“Oh, hello, Rialo,” Terenei said, keeping pace with Serru as they crossed the courtyard. Rialo turned halfway, and smiled, inclining his head in a greeting.
Okay, seriously, what were the odds of everyone showing up at once? I honestly had no idea whether anything about this world pyed around with probability, but it wouldn’t entirely surprise me. Or maybe it was genuinely random.
“Nathan?” Serru said questioningly. “Is everything all right?”
“I was just about to ask that,” Aryennos said.
“If this is a bad time...” Rialo began, letting the hand holding the bag drop.
Probability would have to wait.
I held up both hands. “Everyone rex. I went out earlier to look around Coppersands. Which is beautiful, by the way. This is Rialo. His daughter was in a minor accident and I was close enough to be able to help her. She wasn’t badly hurt, just banged up a little and frightened. Rialo, my friends Aryennos and Serru.” Normally, I’d also introduce Terenei, but it looked like they already knew each other, almost certainly better than I knew either.
“Colnar said you were travelling with friends,” Rialo said. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Fortunate timing,” Serru said. “But Nathan is very good at responding quickly in a crisis.”
“Extremely,” Aryennos said ruefully. “And I’m really personally grateful for it.”
“It’s my job,” I said. “Did you two have a good lunch?”
“We did,” Serru said, but she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her gaze flicking down, then to the side. “Something has come up we need to discuss. But I’m sorry we interrupted.”
“Something urgent? Or private?”
“Neither,” Terenei said. “A request from my family. It can wait. I’m sure Rialo would like to get back to Irami.”
“She’s with her mother and sister,” Rialo said, “but I am going by there to check on her before I go back to the shop, so, well, yes, but I showed up with no warning, so....”
I gnced at Aryennos, just to make sure he was still there and okay, but he made a gesture I took as an invitation, so I oriented on Rialo instead.
“So you made a trip all the way here over the things I left in the mini-tent?”
He shrugged. “And to thank you, and her mother and perhaps one or two neighbours asked me to include an item or two as their way of showing their appreciation. I... Irami is clinging to the toy cat, and I’m sorry, I didn’t have the heart to ask her to let go, so I repced it. I hope that’s acceptable.”
“Yes, of course. I’m gd she likes it.” Sure, it was a gift from Serru the prior day, but I couldn’t imagine her being upset. I did accept the bag when he held it out again, though, and set it on the ground next to me. “That was...” I never did really master how to handle expressions of gratitude gracefully. “Thank you. Please tell Irami I’m gd she wasn’t badly hurt and that she’s recovering? And she’s welcome to keep the toy cat.”
“I’ll tell her. If there’s anything else you need for your journey, our neighbourhood would be a good pce to shop for it. Good travels.”
“Say hello to your family for me,” Terenei said.
“I will,” Rialo said. “We got new books in from the Midnds, your grandmother might want to drop by. We’re holding one on jotun weaving and pottery patterns for her.”
“I’ll pass that on. For that, I’m sure she’ll be there as quickly as possible.”
With a few other passing pleasantries, Rialo departed.
“You could probably sit down,” I pointed out to Serru.
“That would have been awkward with someone here clearly not intending to stay long enough to sit,” Serru said, “but you’re right.” She gnced at Terenei, and they retrieved two more chairs from the patio table Aryennos had already cimed his from.
“You mentioned a request?” I prompted, once they were comfortable.
“From my family,” Terenei said.
Today’s clothes were no less gmorous than yesterday’s, but different. Instead of violet, the basic colour was deep red with a pinkish tint, but paired with aquamarine and a near-white cream; close-fitting leggings or shorts were visible above boots that reached higher than knee-level, but over that was a skirt of sorts so narrow that had it not been slit to the hip on both sides it would have made it impossible to take a single step. That shirt had ces at the neck that reached all the way to the sor plexus, and the long loose sleeves had been slit along the top up to above the elbow, mirroring the skirt. Makeup and jewellery had been adjusted accordingly.
“My youngest cousin Nurea,” Terenei said, jerking my attention back, “is expected at the nearest specialist school in Ottermarsh. We’ve been struggling with transportation options, because the public coaches that run from here to there will be crowded with a new semester starting and she’d already extremely nervous despite how badly she wants to go. My aunt has a wagon I can borrow to take her, but honestly, I do not have anything like Serru’s wilderness skills and we’d have to take the long route, along the ring-road and then cutting innd at the nearest point. My grandparents asked Serru whether she’d be free to and willing to make sure we get there.”
“It would mean a detour from our pnned route,” Serru said. “An extra day at least, more likely two to three.”
That expined her discomfort.
And if Terenei’s grandparents were the ones to ask, they probably knew her. Family friends? I definitely didn’t want her having to deal long-term with consequences of decisions made because I was in a hurry.
“Roughly the same direction?” I asked.
Serru nodded. “More or less. If we leave the coast and go in a more direct line, it will take less extra time than following the coast and then turning innd.”
“I would never try,” Terenei said cheerfully. “I know I’d get us lost. I don’t want to dey you, but our options for getting Nurea there on time and safely are limited. Serru says you’re going somewhere but she won’t tell me where, only that you want to get there quickly. Two feet move more slowly than four, I’m sure, but the wagon I have avaible can hold the rest of us, and ornithians are fast.” The gnce at Serru and accompanying grin were affectionate. “If we can keep Serru in the wagon, that is, instead of wandering off to gather whatever she sees. However, since I don’t know what the situation is and I don’t want you feeling pressured, suppose I stroll around the far side of the courtyard and let you talk?”
I wondered what an ornithian was, but this wasn’t the time to ask.
I held up a hand to forestall Terenei’s motion to rise, and looked at Serru. “Trusted friend, right?”
She nodded without hesitation. “Unquestionably one of my closest friends. We’ve known each other well since we were teenagers, when we were both at the joining celebration of my uncle and his aunt. I trust him absolutely.”
I had zero confidence in my ability to travel with anyone and not say something that would make no sense to them—maybe not quite as badly as Aryennos when I asked about banks, but certainly something that would require expnations. Trying to pretend would get me deep into embarrassing sitcom territory, I was sure of it.
On the other hand, I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into multiple forms and abilities.
“Serru’s helping me try to get home,” I said. “I’m not from your world. We’re hoping the Quincunx can get me back to where I belong.”
Terenei blinked, forehead furrowing briefly. Then... his? Serru had used that pronoun and presumably would know... his eyes widened, and he tilted his head as he regarded me. “An adult newcomer?”
“Yes,” Serru said. “And there is no current need to get into how we established that.”
“I have no reason not to believe you. I wasn’t going to ask. That does expin not wanting to dey, though.”
I shook my head. “We’ve had deys. I’m sure we’ll have more. This doesn’t sound like a long one. And I bet it will give us a pce to restock on supplies, right?”
“There’s a settlement linked to the school,” Terenei said. “There are a number of craftspeople there who produce unique items that they sell to traders, but most have local shops was well. And there are everyday shops, of course. And three inns of different sizes and style.”
“So it might take a little longer, but it’ll ultimately be useful. It seems like the best thing to do is help out, restock near the school, and keep going from there.”
“I know you want to get back to your family,” Serru said. “I feel bad asking you to wait longer.”
“Time is probably running at a different speed there.” I’d pretty much decided to believe that, since it was better for my mental health overall, even though I couldn’t prove it. Besides, the Zombie King had clearly been here for much longer than would make any sense otherwise for a gamer from my world, so probably it was even true. “It’ll be okay. I don’t mind. I promise. Are we still leaving tomorrow morning?”
“We’re ready to go anytime,” Terenei said. “I’ll talk to my aunt today about the wagon, but I don’t expect any problems with tomorrow specifically. Nurea and I can meet you here early tomorrow morning.”
“That will work,” Serru said. “I would expect to sleep outside two nights between here and the school, given ornithian and centaur speeds. I’ll be able to gather less food if we’re staying on the road and using a wagon, so we’ll need to carry more. How are you getting home afterwards?”
“There’s a wagoner who brings my grandfather deliveries from Ottermarsh regurly and I can tag along with him on the way back, but he has other stops in the other direction. Nurea asked me to stay nearby for a few cycles while she gets settled, and I promised I would. She probably won’t need me long but she’s more nervous than she’ll admit and if it makes her feel better, I’ll stay. I’d have invited you to join me for a few days in Ottermarsh doing nothing in particur but I’m not going to interrupt a journey with an important goal for something we can do another time.”
Serru nodded. “Definitely another time, though.”
“Well, with that established, I’ll go home and tell my family that we have a solution that will get Nurea there on time for her first day of csses, and I’ll see you early tomorrow.” He got up. “How do you two feel about hugs?”
“Usually good,” Aryennos said. “As long as I know they’re coming.”
“As long as I know the person they’re coming from,” I said, “I like hugs. And a couple of d... cycles of pnned travel together and a mutual friend count as knowing someone, as far as that.” It was a pleasant aspect of the extreme scarcity of communicable disease, that hugs weren’t dangerous.
“I’m gd to hear it.”
Standing up entirely would probably make me too tall. Not standing meant I was probably lower than ideal. Either would probably be awkward. Maybe I should have just said I wasn’t comfortable with hugs.
While Terenei gave Serru a hug and a kiss on her cheek, I pnted both feathery front hooves and heaved myself up to all fours, with the fleeting thought that it would be simpler if I could just switch to my felid form without risking several kinds of social and sensory complications.
Terenei didn’t give me time to worry; he just wrapped both arms around me and hugged me.
While he was taller than Serru, especially in boots with heels, it wasn’t by enough to remove the awkwardness: his head was still roughly level with my chest. Upper chest, at least, so there was that mercy. I shifted my weight, trying to spy my forelegs out to the side somewhat and flex my knees. Bending forward as much as I could turned out to mostly just make me feel like I was trying to keep as much of my body out of contact as possible, which wasn’t the intention at all and I could only hope Terenei didn’t interpret it that way.
I really needed to figure out how to handle this kind of thing gracefully!
Terenei’s hug was warm and enthusiastic, not hard enough to be uncomfortable but it might have been if I’d been in my felid form.
When he let go, he tilted his head again as he regarded me thoughtfully. Sorting through several possible things to say, I suspected. He settled for ying a hand on my shoulder and giving it a quick squeeze, before moving on to Aryennos, who stood up and returned the offered hug with enthusiasm.
