Two days later, I arrive at Hilsbury's High Street to something akin to a hero's welcome, much to my ire.
"Leave him alone!" Zantham calls out over the din of the crowd as we arrive. "I need to see him first."
It still takes a good few minutes for everyone to regain enough control of their senses to listen to what he's saying, and then the Paladin shakes my hand cordially when I exit the carriage.
"How has your stay in the capital been so far?" he asks, tone warmer than I've ever heard it. I don't hear the rest of what he asks, because -
"What's the castle like?"
"Is there really a pet phoenix in the garden?"
"Does the lake have any sea beasts in it?"
"Who's the friendliest Paladin?"
"Tell us!"
I take a deep breath in and pinch the bridge of my nose. There's probably still other questions that were lost in the babble.
"He's had a long journey, he needs rest." Zantham shouts over the crowd. When there is still no ebb in noise volume, he resorts to his affinity. My magic gives me a split-second warning-
"QUUIIIIIIEEEEEETT!!!"
Thank goodness I plugged my ears in, or I may well now have bleeding eardrums.
"Thank you." he says sarcastically, voice back to normal volume. Turning to me, he asks: "Would you like me to show you your quarters?"
My what? "I-"
"I'm sure you'll find Peacock Villa comfortable and to your taste."
"I will be staying in my previous residence." I say with a steely edge to my tone.
The previous rosy colour in Zantham's cheeks drains away. "I already made the preparations-"
"My decision is final, and I will walk if necessary." I walk past him, planning to do exactly that. "Thank you for your offer."
It takes half an hour to fight out of the crowd and their impatient questions; it takes another half hour to walk to the outskirts of the town, from where you can see the border to Garadh.
Home!
Or house. Nowhere can really be considered 'home' anymore.
Nevermind. It doesn't have the same ring to it.
It doesn't matter that the bed is rougher than what I've grown accustomed to; it doesn't matter that the place is in need of dusting and the food has been spoilt by mould; it doesn't matter that the floorboards creak and the hinges groan.
This is a place I can call mine.
The first thing I do is sprawl myself out on the single bed and take a nice, long nap.
***
Umaima replied a couple of days ago. May as well actually answer now.
nabola-
why?-
adiii i know you've read. ANSWER >>:((
-Well, I'm currently in Hilsbury.
-If you want to meet up in secret at the border, I wouldn't mind that for around ten minutes or so.
-How are you, by the way? Don't call me Adi again. It sounds childish.
as well as i can given the circumstances-
YOU ARE READING
Saviour of Neither
Random"There is another, master... But the soul of the Devil resides too within him and the resulting destruction will spell the end of us all." The magical people of Ceatha Tor believe that those that are amoral should be named and shamed: this is indica...
