Adventure of Rekka Ch. 07

"A mad man? Oh Gods. Name of Bill, accompanied by a small hellhound?" Felix asked with a groan.

"You've met, I see. Yes, he does make an impression. Don't worry, they've left - headed north in the warden's carriage," Cato said with a slight smile.

"But why? Why did he do this, and what is he planning farther north?" Felix asked.

"Believe it or not, he said he's going to save the world - for humanity and mamono both," Cato said with a chuckle.

"My, he sounds very noble, this man Bill," Helena said.

Felix and Cato shared a knowing look.

"Well, no... he seems a great fool, to be honest. Amiable enough, but mad," Cato replied.

Felix nodded, frowning. "That is what I thought at first, as well. I don't know what to think anymore," he said, glancing at Helena. "Cato, what are you going to do now?"

"Bill asked one thing of me before he left, I'm going to attend to that," Cato said, then sighed. "After that, I've nothing left. I envy you, Cluvius. Take Helena and go far from here, find a place that welcomes you."

"What do you mean, sir?" Helena asked with concern. "Surely you can find happiness as well."

Cato snorted, shaking his head. "I had happiness. I was a fisherman, you know... before. I met an undine. She was my heart, my joy. I never knew such peace, and never again will." He closed his eyes for a moment, reliving the memory.

"We were discovered, of course. The holy knights were sent to capture me and destroy her. I did the only thing I could," Cato said woodenly. "...the terrible things I said to drive her away. It broke my heart, but it was the only way I could make her safe. When they found me by the river bank she was gone, and I pray she stayed that way."

Felix did not know what to say, feeling pity for the man now that he understood his loss. Looking over at Helena he felt a deep chill in his stomach at the thought of men coming for her simply because he... felt the way he did about her. Helena looked close to tears, her ears hanging low. Then she surprised him by gasping, bringing a hand to her mouth.

"She was an undine, you say? Oh my! Was she named Cassandra, perchance?" she asked.

Cato's eyes flashed to hers, surprise written on his features. "You knew my Cassy?" he asked.

Helena's hooves seemed to dance in place for a moment, startling Felix. "Oh my! Yes, I know her! She is here Cato. She loves you still! She waits for you in the waterways of this forest. She spoke to me of you, though she never told me your name. She followed you as best she could but found no way to reach your side, so she remains for you here as close as she may."

"She forgave me, after all I said?" Cato asked, tears running heedlessly down his cheeks.

"Oh, Cato, of course she has. She was merely shocked by your words when she fled your side, but she came to understand you were only trying to protect her," Helena answered, tears filling her own eyes.

"I must go to her, try to make things right. Thank you, Helena, you've given my life meaning again," Cato said, brushing a sleeve through his tears. "Cluvius, good luck to you, keep her safe. Take my advice, turn around and head back into the forest. There is nothing but heartache for you two farther north."

With a nod of farewell Cato strode purposely into the forest. Felix and Helena watched him go, their hands still held tightly together. Helena smiled happily through her teary eyes, sniffling cutely before looking to Felix.

"He may be right, Felix. It would appear your duty is no more, does it not?" she asked.

"It does seem that way...," he replied before staring towards the north, his expression firming with purpose. "Helena, I want to speak with the man Cato told us of, this Bill. He says he wants to save the world, and perhaps he's simply as mad as he appears... but I would like to know for certain."

"Oh, wait a moment, was he not the one who wounded you, Felix?" she asked, worried.

Felix shrugged, rubbing at his neck. "Well, no, the hellhound did that. In fact, he's the one that bound my wound and gave me the crutch," Felix explained.

"Oh... he did not do a very good job, but I suppose his heart was in the right place," she said uncertainly.

"Yes, I think so too. He does not seem to be a complete villain, if nothing else," Felix said, squeezing her hand. "Will you accompany me? If he is just a fool, we can simply return. I don't think they are dangerous if not provoked."

"I will go where you go, Felix, as long as you will have me," Helena said quietly, "But how will we find them?"

Felix laughed, giving her hand a slight squeeze. "I imagine we just follow the path of destruction."

Giving the fort a wide birth, they made their way north towards the road. No one bothered them and the only movement Felix saw was from the stone turret. There appeared to be some commotion up there and he thought he spied large bat-like wings for a moment but decided he must be seeing things.

-

The carriage door swung open with squeaky hinges, revealing Larry's drawn face as he blinked owlishly into the noonish sunlight. Slowly and carefully he stepped down to the ground with shaky legs, clinging to the door until he was sure they would support him. He wore only his leggings, without shirt or boots. Turning he spoke quietly into the carriage.

"Yes, don't worry I said I'm coming back... just have to use the restroom, Tabby."

Larry wobbled off to the side of the road. He stopped, staring grimly across the short distance to the nearest privacy screen of bushes. With an exhausted sigh he untied his breeches and did his business in full view of anyone bothering to watch.

"Hey, you raised in a barn or something?" an irritatingly jovial voice called.

Larry pointedly ignored it, finishing and shaking himself off before tying the laces of his breeches up. Facing the voice, he saw Bill standing beside the horses. Rekka was lounging on top of the carriage, grinning down at him like some kind of Cheshire wolf. He looked into the carriage seeing Tabitha watching him carefully, concern in her eyes. Larry waved to her before limping over to Bill.

"How many days has it been?" Larry rasped out.

Bill tossed him a waterskin, waiting for Larry to drink deeply and return the skin before answering.

"I'd say... about eight hours?"

Larry stared at him dully for a moment before his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Don't fucking lie to me, man. I've been in that carriage for at least two days, I'm sure of it."

Bill laughed heartily, echoed by a girlish giggle from the hellhound on the roof.

"I know how you feel, dude. Seriously, sun's only been up for a few hours. It's a hell of an experience, huh?"

Larry looked back over to the carriage door, seeing Tabitha leaning out to keep him in view. He gave her a shaky smile, which she returned with a small sweet one of her own. Bill hummed in surprise causing Larry to turn his attention back to him.

"Yeah... Tabby's something else. She could crush me so easily, but she doesn't. What's up with this place? We're just a couple of losers, why are these women even bothering with us?" Larry asked, shoulders slumping.

"Speak for yourself, Larry. I'm a catch, right Rekka?"

"Yeah! You can cook and ya got a sweet ass, sugar," Rekka cheered from her perch.

"See? Rekka knows her shit," Bill said flippantly, grinning up at Rekka. Then, sighing, his face grew serious.

"Honestly, Larry, liking us seems to be built into their genes. It helps that we don't see them as horrible monsters, though. I don't think they're used to that at all. The history of this world is kind of a nightmare if I think about it too hard," Bill explained, shaking his head ruefully.

"No shit. Tabby is the only silver lining to this shitstorm of a world, and she might be too much of a good thing," Larry replied.

"Nice hickey, by the way. Painful?" Bill asked, gesturing towards the bite marks on Larry's shoulder.

"Not really. Tabby, she's... enthusiastic I'll admit, strong as all hell but controlled and gentle... Like no woman I've ever met," Larry replied.

Larry seemed to waver for a second before shaking his head and lurching over to the carriage and leaning into the bench seat. He closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. Opening them, he seemed to take in his surroundings fully for the first time.

"Hey, why are we stopped anyway?"

Bill shrugged and reached over to the closest horse to scratch at its mane and ears. The horse whickered a bit, enjoying the contact.

"Yeah, about that. Rekka... distracted me sometime during the night," Bill said with a shit eating grin.

"You were pretty distractin' yourself, husband," Rekka retorted, stretching provocatively.

"...anyway, I guess I dropped the reins at some point. The horses stopped by themselves and I can't get them going again for anything. You know horses?" Bill asked.

"Oh, are those horses? Thought they were rabbits," Larry snarked. "Maybe they're hungry or something? Let them loose to get some grass."

"I fed them, we have grain stuff and I figured out those feed bags. They still won't move, though, and I'm not undoing all these horse attachments without professional help. It did not go well last time," Bill explained.

Larry grumbled something about useless hicks, pushing himself away from the carriage to wobble over to the horses. He took a long, hard look at all the leads, clips, and buckles.

"That's a lot more complicated than a leash," Larry remarked, finally.

"No kidding. Wish I'd kidnapped that guard, now. We could really use a local for this sort of thing. Keep your eyes open. If anyone wanders by, we'll shanghai them," Bill said, looking down the road.

"Right, well, you're the expert at abduction. I'm going to go pass out if Tabby lets me, good luck with the horses," Larry said as he tottered over to the carriage door.

Bill watched as two great paws reached out to gently pull the unresisting Larry into the carriage. A slim striped tail curled out, tugging the door shut. Turning back to the horses Bill tried prodding at one of them to see if they'd get the hint. The horse's head just lifted up, giving him some serious side eye.

"Keep that up, Seabiscuit. I'll feed you to my wife," Bill growled. "Hey, Rekka, you hungry?"

"You said we don't eat horses," Rekka responded, her ears perking up.

"Yeah, I meant in general. We've got some time, looks like. I'll whip us up some breakfast," Bill said.

Rekka nodded before flipping onto her back to sunbathe on the roof. Bill ambled to the back of the carriage to dig through their supplies for something to eat. He decided on oatmeal with dried fruit for himself and Larry. After all the meat he'd been eating he was looking forward to heading off a bout of scurvy. He'd do something with the dried meat for the women. Rekka had turned her nose up at the idea of eating anything that hadn't died in screaming torment.

He busied himself making a small fire off to the side of the road. Using his newly stolen camping gear he whipped up fruit porridge and a hearty beef stew. He poured portions into four tin bowls, pleased he'd remembered to loot dishes and cutlery. No more meat on a stick for him.

"Rekka, breakfast," he called.

Rekka merely flipped a paw over the side of the carriage, imperiously waving for him to come feed her. Bill chuckled, gathered up two bowls and knocked on the side of the carriage. The door opened, giving him a view of a nude Tabitha holding the slumbering Larry to her chest to cover her modesty.

"Hey you lovebirds, breakfast," Bill announced, enjoying the view as he placed the bowls on one of the bench seats.

"Thank you, Bill," Tabitha said, her face a picture of calm.

"Anytime... Tabby," he replied, winking.

Bill was delighted to get a response from her, watching her eyes widen with surprise and a blush spread across her features. Laughing, he pushed the door shut before she melted from embarrassment.

Picking up the other two bowls and a spoon he clambered up to the roof to join Rekka. Settling down cross legged while balancing the two bowls, he set his own aside to focus on his hungry wife. Rekka promptly crawled over to receive her food, flipping over onto his lap. She opened her mouth expectantly while Bill spooned up a choice bit of the hearty stew.

Rekka wolfed it down in her usual way, barely chewing and licking her lips appreciatively.

"Ooh, that's good! It's got spices an' stuff!" she exclaimed, grinning up at Bill for a moment before continuing, "Yep, cookin' is much better'n makin' stupid explodin' sticks. Poor Tabitha is gonna be so jealous I caught the best husband."

"Hey, don't get ahead of yourself. Maybe Larry's a secret chef. Guess I'd better get ready for you to leave me when he whips up his next masterpiece," Bill replied, feigning a deep sadness while bringing another spoonful to Rekka's lips.

"Mm. Nah, he's too shrimpy for me. I like my husband with more meat on his bones," Rekka replied haughtily. "Sides, I couldn't do that to Tabitha. She's smitten with the little guy," she continued, smiling up at Bill. "Guess I'll just have to make due with you. We can have him cook and you can just make it up to me in bed, sugar," Rekka finished, wriggling into his lap a bit while grinning cheekily, the fire in her eyes flaring up.

Bill chuckled, "Remind me to keep an eye out for any weightlifters wearing aprons. I'll be sure to run them off before they can lead you astray with their bulging biceps and fancy ketchups."

"They'd have to be pretty fancy whatsits to get me away from you!" Rekka declared, pulling his hand over to lick the spoon. "I don't want anyone else, you're it for me, husband," she said, placing a kiss on his knuckles.

They grinned at each other like a couple of idiots while finishing their meal. Bill insisted Rekka at least try some of the oatmeal. She decided it wasn't bad, but "Needs more meat." Bill would try to incorporate more diversity in her meals, hiding it behind the meat for a culinary ambush. Now that he knew she could stomach something besides meat, he wasn't going to let her get away with not eating her vegetables.

Bellies full, and with the horses still on strike, they decided on a nap to wait out a change in circumstances. Rekka assured him she would wake before anyone could sneak up on them and Bill took her word for it. Laying back with a makeshift cloth sunscreen over his head, he fell asleep with Rekka curled into his side with her head on his shoulder.

-

"When do you suppose we will encounter them, Felix?" Helena asked.

The two had been traveling along the road for a few hours, and the sun had reached its apex above them. They'd not seen another being as they trekked, and had simply enjoyed each other's company. Felix considered her question, not fully sure himself.

"I'm not certain, Helena. I hope they are not in any particular hurry. I think as long as we don't dally ourselves, we should come upon them at some point. There are only a few places they may be going in any case. The next town is a week's journey to the north, while the stone quarry is closer along the western road," he replied thoughtfully.

He wished he knew exactly what Bill had planned. If the madman was capable of doing anything that would secure a future for him and Helena, he felt determined to assist him. Felix only hoped Bill's plan was a good one: based upon forethought, reason, and strategy.

"Why are you sighing, Felix? Are you tired? Shall we rest a bit? Your leg is not bothering you, is it?" Helena asked, concerned.

"Ah, no, Helena. I'm fine, my leg has never felt better, thanks to you," Felix replied with a smile, squeezing her hand gently. "I'm simply worried about the future. The man we're following doesn't fill me with confidence of his competence, I'll be honest. And yet, he did manage to capture the Fort. I'd have thought it impossible, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"What exactly do you hope he will accomplish, Felix?" Helena asked.

"He's a strange one, Helena. If he can be believed, he knew nothing of the, erm, war between us, humanity that is, and the... mamono," Felix replied, stumbling over the unfamiliar word and the new reality he found himself in. Helena simply squeezed his hand, waiting for him to finish.

"Yet he called the hellhound his girlfriend, as if he could see past her claws and ferocious nature without a second thought. He was not afraid of her in the slightest... a hellhound!" he said, shaking his head with amazement.

"I have not known many, but while they are very... direct, hellhounds can be wonderfully fine protectors and not at all as terrible as one might expect," Helena explained, "Unless you threaten their husbands or children, of course."

Felix laughed, rubbing at his thigh. "Aye, I found that out quickly enough. I hope she isn't holding a grudge. In any event, Bill doesn't seem to have our preconceptions of the war. Perhaps he's thought of a resolution no one else has been able to see, not being blinded by our fear and prejudice. If he knows of a way our peoples can live in peace and give us a future, I want to be a part of it."

"Oh, Felix! What a wonderful thought. I do hope you are right, for everyone's sake," she said, gazing at him with adoration.

Felix immediately lost any misgivings about their current course of action at her words. The beautiful unicorn's confidence in him bolstered his mood lifting a weight from his shoulders. Together they walked on, their mood joyful and their feet light.

Sometime later the road curved gently around a slight hill with large hedges to each side. Felix and Helena were quite distracted by each other's company and chatted quietly, and so were taken completely by surprise when a man abruptly launched himself from the concealing bushes into the road directly in front of them.

"Stand and deliver! Hand over the centaur and nobody gets hurt!" the highwayman yelled, waving a large sword over his head. From behind them another bandit moved into position to close off their retreat.

_

Bill was woken by a sharp pain in his side, he jerked away and cursed, sitting up to see who had assaulted him. Blinking up into the sunlight he saw Rekka grinning cheekily at him waggling one of her clawed digits at him.

"The hell? You couldn't have just shaken me?" he grumped, checking for blood.

"I did! You sleep like a log, husband," Rekka replied, hopping to her feet and looking down the road towards the way they'd come. "Someone's comin', I can smell em," she said, sniffing at the air.

Bill pushed himself to his feet to look as well, seeing and smelling nothing but taking her word for it.

"How many? Might just be some of the ex-inmates making a break for home," Bill asked, sliding to the driver's seat and then dropping to the ground. He found his chainmail and armored up before strapping his sword to his back.

"Dunno. There's jus two of em, and one's definitely a man. Can't mistake that smell, but the other one... It's weird. I ain't never smelled that before," Rekka replied, hopping down to land in a crouch beside him, bouncing to her feet to look him over. "Yer swords on crooked," she said, adjusting it for him.

"Thanks, babe. What's the other one smell like?" Bill asked, strapping on his bracers, cursing as he pinched his wound under its lumpy bandages in his haste.

Rekka sniffed at the air again, her eyes closed in thought. Finally, she shook her head, snorting her frustration.

"It's so weird! Like... Like a centaur, I guess? Only... real clean? No, more like... pure," Rekka replied, unsure.

"Huh. Well shit, I bet a centaur would know how to get these horses moving. Let's go conscript her to the cause," Bill said.

"Well, if she is a centaur that ain't going to be easy. They're real touchy, always goin' on about honor an' stupid stuff like that," Rekka said, "And they're real quick to use them bows they all love so much, so watch out for that."