Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

40.) Traveler

Listening to the heavy boots coming closer and knowing what they carried, I decided to hide. It was better to be safe. A remnant of my fathers teachings croped up. My hearing was much sharper and they were louder than a heard of goats trampling across rocky terrain. Making myself small and inconspicuous, I hid at the edge of the wall, in the shadows.

The two men I had seen with Roka walked right in without worry and without hesitation. I eyed the newly sharpened weapons at their sides.
Do they think that I'm no match for them? Or did they stumble on a nice resting place for the night and didn't think to check if it was occupied?

"Anybody home?" The older looking one asked.

The younger one carried what was now a box of swords. The two looked around the open space. Defeating them would probably be easy but that was a weapon that could hurt me and I also had the little kicker to think about. He already had been stressed alot lately and there was no need to push our luck.

I began to slink out of the space.

"Whoah, whoah there little lady." The older man said spying me. The younger one turned to look in my direction but still didn't find me in the dark. I didn't move.

"We don't mean you any harm." The older man said with his hands raised. "Just looking for a friendly conversation."

Knowing I couldn't hide anymore I stretched to my full height. I was taller than both of them...how tall had I grown?

"Maybe not a little lady." He coughed. They both took a step backwards closer to the water. I eyed them suspiciously.The older man fiddled with his belt. I wondered what I looked like in their eyes. A pregnant woman, half dressed, with a tail and horns and messily done hair.

"What do you want?" I asked looking down on them.

"Ahh...I'm Kallen and this is Kain. It seems we have some friends in common, ya know." The man said. "Were here because those Sirenaide really want you to come home."

"Leave." I told them.

"Well you see they said to bring you back by any means necessary, she was really clear about that." He said drawing his sword.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" I asked, my tail flicked in annoyance.

"You can still reconsider." He said holding the sword infront of him. He had a different feeling about him than the ones I had met before. I could kill him but the risk... The younger man at his side drew his sword as well. He seemed less confident but still prepared to fight. That one would be easy.

I thought about the swords again and put my hand on my stomach. Not worth it. Since my back was to the doors opening, I simply turned and ran. If there was one thing I was confident about it was my speed. I passed over sandy dones with weed like outcroppings. Through tangled woods with dense tree cover. I moved quickly and relatively softly. Trying not to jostle little kicker as much as possible.

For awhile I darted to the left then i made a long swooping turn to the right. I moved in the direction that felt right based only on instinct. Walking up through small rivers and constantly keeping my head on a swivel for red eyes. I traveled a distance that I was sure they wouldn't be able to catch up to but even then I couldn't stop. I needed a safe place to stay before I figured out how to get back to the Orcs.

A general direction of north east was probably right but that would mean i would have to travel through red eye territory. If I waited to long to fibd my way back to the Orcs I would run the risk of giving birth while traveling and not have the things I needed to support us. It would also mean that if it came to a fight I would be at a steepe disadvantage, carring a delicate creature while trying to defend could be disasterous. But if I dont stop now I might have to give birth out in the open when im not prepared and defensless.

It was a difficult decision.. so I decided not to think about it. I headed north vearing off to the east every now and then. I walked for hours. I heard animals around birds and small rodents, which put me at a relative ease. Only stopping when I came to a large body of water, a big river.

"If this is the same one I came in on. " I thought allowed.

"Its probably not, there are many many tributaries around here." A familiar voice answered.

I turned to find myself looking at grandfather tree but this face was much younger than the one I had seen before. I looked around. This was definitly not where I had encountered him last time.

"Can you walk?" I asked confused walking closer and looking at his roots. It didn't seem possible for him to get up and walk but I had seen him move vines and those things grabbed a pig and ate it. For all I knew it maybe he could.

"No of course not." He grumbled. "Once I take root I can't move."

"Then how are you all the way over here." I asked.

"This vessel grew from a seed from the original." He explained. "Theres lots of me all over the place. How else do you think I helped you with that rock when the Orcs were under attack?" He asked

"Well ...I never really thought about it to be honest." I replied.

"The space between your ears is full of clouds." He sighed.

"Thanks for the help back then." I said shamelessly.

"Its good that your safe. I worried when you didn't come back to visit." He said.

"To be honest Im not really sure how to get back." I said sitting down against his trunk.

"It would probably take a you five or seven days on foot to get back to my original body." He guessed. "But that place isn't very safe, you would be better off going west."

"But I have Gorza and Ortha to think about." I replied. "They're waiting for me."

"They were fine before they will be fine again." He answered. "But you were not and you are not now. The corrupted ones have spread alot in that region and you smell more full of mana than you had before. Im not even sure the Orcs will be able to stay there much longer."

"So I can't go back their either." I surmised "By now I would usually be crying like a baby but now I think I'm just tired... Im glad I stumbled on to you again."

"You were most likely sensing mana and moved to find it. The red eyes can do it as well." He said.

"Huh. I guess thats good to know. If i want to find you again." I thought aloud.

"You could also take some of my seeds with you. It may take me awhile to grow but if you plant me where you decide to live we can talk more regularly in the future." He said shaking his branches. A few circular palm sized balls fell down from his branches. I picked one up and rolled it in my hands.

"I'll take some when i go. Do you mind if I sleep in your branches." I asked. "I had traveled a long way and the tiredness was begining to seep into my bones.

"Your welcome to them." He told me.

"Thanks grandpa tree." I told him before climbing up his side.

"I'll wake you if I feel any of the corrupt near by." He assured me.