Saki

  I looked back down the alleyway. For a moment I thought maybe I saw…

  “Nya! Tama has come to save the day!” Tama suddenly appeared next to me standing tall with her hands on her hips.

  It was so sudden I jerked back involuntarily and almost hit my head on the alley wall. Tama did that all the time. Why… Why was I acting this way?

  Ever since I met Tama I had changed a lot. I let people in I never had before. This was all new to me and I think it was starting to overwhelm me.

  But if I could trust anyone, it would be Tama. The badge I kept on me at all times with the words ‘Vulpine Mastermind’ always in the back of my mind. I was smart, but Tama could see deeper. She had to be able to help.

  “Tama, I thought you were out learning magic with Matriarch Talia?” I asked curiously. Honestly, knowing Tama, Talia probably taught her all the arcane arts in an hour or she told Tama she had to learn to read and Tama fled.

  The sad part was that either of those options would match perfectly to who Tama was.

  “Tama was…” She trailed off and the answer became obvious.

  “She told you to read a spell script, didn't she Tama?” I asked knowingly.

  Tama deflated instantly and looked at me helplessly. “Tama does not know why paper is needed to use fancy things like that one guy!”

  Her tail lashed back and forth and I could see the indignity on her face of being forced to, of all things, read.

  “You mean Lyran?” I asked as a smile crept onto my face. Somehow being around Tama truly was a remedy when nothing else worked.

  I paused and then realized something. “Tama, how did you know where I was?” My ears flattened at the sudden thought. Tama was fast, but Drestor was big. True, she could run the entire perimeter in under half an hour, if that. But even she couldn’t check all the alleyways in such short notice.

  Finding me made sense in the context of she was struggling with something, so she sought me out. But how…

  “There you are!” another voice called out. Tera, panting heavily, rushed down the alley way up to Tama.

  “Oh that’s easy!” Tama said happily. “Tama just followed the big letters above your head that goes over everything! Tama is surprised you never noticed them.”

  As she said this she pointed to the empty space above me and I facepalmed hard. Of course the Queen would have access to where her royal advisor was at all times.

  “Empress Tamaneko, please stop running off so quickly! As your royal guard, it is our duty to protect you!” Tera said, having finally recovered.

  Tama turned to her and I saw a look between uncertainty and panic showing on her face for a split second before she was just smiling at Tera.

  I sighed and stepped forward “David was looking for you earlier. He said you were going to help him handle some crafting and get lunch. Empress Tama probably assumed you would be busy for the day.” As I spoke I saw Tera’s eyes narrow. She knew I was lying.

  It didn’t matter, as the point still stood and Tama took it and ran. “Nya! Tama thought you were going to be with David!”

  Tera glared daggers at me before shifting to a more neutral look at Tama “Of.. course my empress. I shall go find him at once.”

  With that, she turned and after glancing at me again with irritation, stormed out of the alleyway the way she had come.

  Tama turned back to me and asked “Did Tama do it right?” Her ears twitched and she looked uncertain again for just a second.

  I was starting to notice something that surprised me. Tama was not as carefree as she seemed. This was always true, but as of late her facial features had been more expressive. I wondered if the stress was getting to her.

  I suppose if an entire kingdom rested on my shoulders. I would be pretty stressed too.

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  “You did great, Tama, but I wanted to ask you something.” I said seriously. She glanced behind her for a moment before looking back at me.

  Good, it meant she considered fleeing and didn’t. I took a deep breath and looked around us before sitting against the alley wall I was already next to. I didn’t expect Tama to sit down with me, but to my surprise she did.

  She walked over and sat on her knees, hands on her thighs and her tail formally tucked. I had never actually seen her sit on the floor since we had been together.

  Usually she has a chair, a rock, or in Muosil, she ruins everywhere to sit. I only just now realized she had never sat down on the ground.

  Watching her do it felt.. odd. Especially since the way she did it was so very strange. During meditation she did a more cross legged sitting position.

  I paused as I realized I was avoiding the true topic. I looked at Tama was was looking around and after a moment, she began to play with her tail. I pursed my lips and broached the subject. “Tama, I…”

  Before I could even finish Tama suddenly spoke up, her voice full of emotion. “Tama doesn’t think she can do this Saki!” Her tail was let go and began thrashing nervously and she looked at me with sad eyes.

  “Tama is worried. She keeps messing up. Tama didn’t mean to hurt Lyran, she was hurt and scared. Tama doesn’t want to be Queen!”

  I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. I laughed hard, I laughed so hard I fell to my side giggling. “Nya! It isn’t funny! Tama is struggling! Saki needs to help Tama!” She said in disbelief as if I had just punched her. No, actually, if I had punched her she probably would have laughed that off.

  I finally recovered as Tama stared at me with hurt in her eyes. I shook my head. “Tama, the truth is, I am struggling just as much. This is all new for me too. Trust me, you are doing better than I am.”

  As I said that I remembered the tricks I had been pulling. The three separate incidents with Talia, running away from Lyran. And I shivered slightly.

  ? I looked up at Tama to see her looking annoyed.

  At first I was confused, then she spoke and it all clicked. “Don’t make fun of Tama!” She snapped. “Saki always knows everything!”

  I stared at her and for the first time, I realized she genuinely believed that?! I always knew she thought I was smart. But like.. everything?!

  “Tama, this may come as a shock, but I do not know everything. In fact, I would go so far as to say I know very little in the grand scheme of things. I didn’t know how to deal with Manna for instance!” I looked at her earnestly as I spoke. But I could clearly see it wasn’t clicking. Did.. She.. She really did?!

  “But Manna is different! Manna is dark and scary and unknowable, and you knew about her! She is just strong and Saki is weak!”

  Taking that last part was a bit of a blow, but to somebody like Tama, I probably was weak. The fact I could probably take on four adventurers alone, especially in Kitsune form. Usaki proved that during the Lich battle.

  Doesn’t mean I would be considered strong by absolute legendary beasts like Tama or Manna. It also makes sense her view of strength would be skewed since she grew up with a legendary hero who trained her every day. Still, it hurt a little.

  Putting my pride aside for a moment, I decided to focus on the omniscience thing.

  “Tama, I did not know about Manna, I sensed her power and panicked.” I said simply.

  Tama just stared at me expectantly. I was confused as to why, then it struck me and I rolled my eyes. “No Tama, I was not using mind powers to read Manna’s power level. I genuinely felt her power emanating off her. It was horrifying.”

  Tama looked at me like I had just slapped her in the face. She shook her head and finally said “Is this about Tama making you Royal Advisor without asking? Tama needs you!”

  I stared at her and finally realized, this wasn’t just a belief. Tama seems to have internalized my all knowing power. I needed to fix this and fast.

  I considered for a moment, then an idea came to me. I could kill two birds with one stone. “Tama, what do you think of Lyran?” I asked casually. Though I did steal a glance at her before looking away.

  “Nya, Lyran spied on Tama. She didn’t like that. But Lyran also gave Tama lots of cool toys. One even saved Saki!” She said matter of factly.

  I opened my mouth but she continued. “He is super weird and super smart like you Saki, but not as smart as you. Only Saki is that smart!”

  I once again opened my mouth, and was for a second time, cut off as she continued. “Though, Tama does think it's weird that you get embarrassed around him a lot and talk to him funny. You also stutter when he is around.” She paused and her eyes went wide.

  I quickly cut her off. “No, Tama, Lyran is not a super enemy boss with mind powers.”

  Tama deflated and looked speculative for a moment. It gave me a chance to speak, so I took it.

  “Tama, I.. I have a crush on Lyran. The same way you did with David for a while.” Even as I said it I felt myself shake slightly. I can’t believe I actually said it. It was only to Tama, who I trusted with my life. But it was still massive, I wasn’t even sure myself until I said the words.

  “Nya, Tama knows that! Tama didn’t know Saki could fall in love. Saki said she used all her powers to make people do what she wants.

  Tama thought maybe he was controlling you!” She said matter of factly, as she began to move her head back and forth in a weird way, like she was dancing only her head to some beat only she could hear.

  Chapter 119: Not The Smartest