(Vol 2) Chapter 10: Simply Among Them

The old man of the farm continued, “I’m Axellus Mestok, and this here’s my wife Essielle, but you can call us Axe and Essie.”

Meanwhile, Essie had a smile, but it was somewhat guarded, and her shrewd eyes were noting their alluring good looks, as well as the obvious fascination all the younger sorts were under, as if in the presence of princesses.

A little more than that, actually.

Azure smiled and put her arm around Sammy affectionately. “I’m Glaysha, and this is my darling love Kallio that I’m taking to see the wonders on the road to their eventual culmination in Traesh. It’s a pleasure to meet you and your family, good man of the soil.”

Sammy tried a smile and a wave again. It’s okay, stay under the radar, no need to be a heroic goddess here, she’s got this, everything’s cool, it’s perfectly fine and natural that I’m feeling shy on my first day in a new world-

“It actually works fine that you’re so bashful,” Azure sent to her mentally. “You exude privilege but with a sweet demeanor. Could fit an eccentric with coin to blow through traveling around. You’re hesitant, I convinced you, so on.”

“Oh, well, yes, that’s what I was thinking too, naturally. But… you’re really good at this, I see. So, you know, carry on.”

Nice save, Sammy.

There were lots of thoughtful nodding around. A few clueless, puzzled looks; a few grins. Essie smiled more pleasantly at them and said, “Well, you’re certainly a lovely couple. What caused you to break from the road? Travelers don’t hardly ever come here or even see us. Easy day’s travel, Geirkos to Brackenhome.”

Azure cocked her head in a little shrug, wearing an impish grin. “We kind of… took too long on our break for lunch. Relaxing. Enjoying nature. Got slightly turned around.”

She just innuendo’d that we shagged in the bushes!

There were some hands covered over mouths, suppressed giggles from women, more grins from the men (though also more cluelessness).

And then Parrot-Dart whistled before parroting, “Right there! Don’t stop!” … ending with another whistle.

The suppression of humor, the preservation of politeness, was mountainously admirable right then among the gathered. Interrupted snorts, coughs into hands hiding faces, shaking chests, and some just having to excuse themselves back into the house. The only ones to laugh were a couple of the kids, obvious to everyone but themselves that they were pretending they knew what the joke was as they eyed their elders.

Sammy was sure that she was as red as Azure right then.

‘Mental teeth’ clenched, she sent, “Dart. I am going. To kill you.”

“Fair. It was a nice run.”

Axe, for his part, was surreptitiously rubbing his bearded chin, as if he needed his whole hand to do so, obviously hiding his smile. But he recovered quickly to clear his throat and say loudly, “Well! You seem like two nice young lasses! Pretty sure we can accommodate you for the night.” He glanced at his wife through the slow speaking of this, but she was nodding with a faint smirk to assure him.

Nodding once more to his new guests, the old man continued, “And no talk of coin, I won’t hear it, not for no one staying under this roof. You can buy things if you like, and discounted at that. But I heard one of you was a bard? Wouldn’t mind hearing a song or two.”

Azure bowed with a little flourish. “Of course, Farmer Axe! I’d absolutely love to.”

Meanwhile, Sammy transferred her ‘parrot’ to her hand and then more or less thrust him up and forced him to launch into the air. Which he did with a squawk of protest.

“Go fend for yourself, you little shit,” she sent to him.

“Hmph! I’ll console this offense with memories of my glory.”

“That’s just dandy, then!” Axe exclaimed to Azure. “Grab your things, the boys’ll take your horse to the stable, and you can hurry up and get some dinner. Some of us were just sitting down for it. Come on in.”

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Dinner was a loud but tasty affair, of fried squash in some sort of breading, black beans baked to softness mixed with onions, delicious fresh bread, and a bit of cheese. Some sort of heavily watered-down, wine-like drink was in place of water.

Their presence, in any case, couldn’t stifle the youthful conversations of the day.

Azure was right in the midst of it, though, laughing and bantering along. Lots of questions tossed her way to twist into something that amused and entertained, and lots of lies wherever it involved the past or her origins. But she had news, too, and rumors. Legit ones. They ate it up.

She really is good at this. A natural. My chameleon, even with actual shapeshifters as Servitors. Her shapeshifting is here — in situations like this. It’s a social power. I should remember to utilize it.

Sammy for her part stayed mostly quiet. When a question came her way, or she made any sort of lengthy comment, all eyes turned to her and everyone shut up, as if drawn to her words. Instinctively feeling them important. She didn’t feel that presence, that deific charisma, but everyone else did.

They heard something special and powerful speaking from deeper than a voicebox. They must’ve expected to hear declarations, or calls to heroism, or parables.

Verily, verily, curbest thine enthusiasm.

There was some trick to turning it off, clearly. The best plan as she saw it was to utilize Illusion more in the future, to alter her face and voice to something more normal.

I guess the classic use of an Avatar is to be kicking a bunch of ass, commanding hordes of warriors and Servitors to smite enemies, ruling from a high seat making proclamations, and judging mortal lives… and I’m here having some beans and bread with Jethro and Clyde. Well, fine by me. I’m sure the rest is a doom I can’t avoid forever…

But I can’t forget this. I won’t. A simple kindness and acceptance from people that don’t know me from Eve, for nothing more than the promise of company. People that would give you the shirt off their back if you really needed it. That’s something to preserve. To love and to strive for.

Not actually having hunger, she ate quite slowly compared to the rest. It was interesting to enjoy food for the texture and taste, without needing any discipline not to wolf stuff down. She also had no ‘gotten full’ state, so she slowly but inevitably cleaned her plate.

Axe and Essie both seemed to sense this and offered some dwindling seconds, but Sammy politely declined with a smile and thank you, saying it had been more than enough. Which was true from the first bite, really.

But they did save her a piece of wildberry pie, which was the true highlight. Delicious.

1 FE (Illusion) obtained from worship.

7 FE (Mirrors, Illusion) obtained from worship.

20 FE (Mirrors, Illusion, Fate) obtained from worship.

Azure, aka Glaysha, started her singing and flute play with a deliberately rambunctious ditty. Something about Jack and Jane, who actually loved each other, but every time one or the other thought to confess, some comical event prevented it, or made misconceptions about their status that had them abandon it in a huff.

It was a clap-along, a stomper, and some furnishings were moved out of the way to make it a dancer, too. Some knew the words, but everyone was trying to sing it. The first playing ended to great applause, as Jack and Jane finally fought off the curse keeping them apart and confessed all the attempts they’d made.

And then they got married. How cute!

An encore was ‘requested’ with a rowdy furor. Glaysha teased them a bit, from atop a low table. “Oh, you don’t wanna hear this old song again! It wasn’t that great, was it?” Virulent disagreement and praise from over a dozen loud farmstead folk. “Why not something else, something sad and depressing?”

‘Oh hell no,’ one person called loudly. And everyone voiced their denial ‘colorfully.’ “Jack and Jane, hmm, are you sure?” A big burst of ‘hear, hear!’ and encouragement.

Wow, she is ruthless! And she legitimately enjoys it. What an entertainer…

Sammy just smiled and clapped along through it, and otherwise wallflowered. There was no need to draw attention to herself, and Azure was more than satisfying the trade of entertainment for hospitality. Axe and Essie clapped right along with and enjoyed it, if usually while sitting at their ease. But even they danced a quick jig together.

Yep, no way I’ll even attempt dancing without a Bard level, not in this giant, awkward body. Otherwise, I might as well be learning from scratch. I barely could before. Hmm. Goddess of Illusions… probably could invoke dancing to deceive or bedazzle… Mirrors to copy…

“She’s an amazing woman,” Essie said, seating herself next to Sammy. “I can see your love for her, too.”

Sammy jumped slightly from her meditation-like ponderings. “Oh, ah, well- Is it that obvious?” She was sure to whisper.

The old woman nodded with a smile. “Takes a keener eye, though, to see you’re the real blooded of the two, mmn? A Lady. Or more.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Just between us, are you a princess?”

Sammy chuckled. “Your pardon, ma’am, but it’s best I not say what I am.”

Essie leaned back, nodding with a ‘knowing’ smirk. “I understand.” After a pause while squinting at the younger woman, she said, “Feel like I know ya, too. Must be a past life.”

“Must be.” She smiled politely. “I’m glad we stayed here. Thank you. I’ll — we’ll — never forget your kindness.”

“You’re welcome, dear. We’re glad, too.” And she smiled and reached to pat Sammy’s hand in a warm gesture. When her hand touched, though, she was slightly ‘struck’. It wasn’t pure shock, nor a flash of awe, exactly. Just puzzled eyes from touching some deeper recognition or draw.

The old woman withdrew her hand while refreshing her momentarily interrupted smile. “So you know, sleeping arrangements are already made and you two will take Becka and Reena’s room. Far corner left, if facing the front door. The room door has just a hook for a handle. Has a latch on the inside, though. It’s a nice bed, new frame.”

“That is wonderful, ma’am. I can’t thank you enough.”

“It’s no trouble. Becka suggested it herself — she’s such a sweetheart. Just one condition, young maybe-princess Kallio.” And she pointed a finger in mock sternness. “You call me Essie from now on.”

“Agreed… Essie.”

After a second encore, Glaysha finally fought off the youths still wanting more, to switch to something more mellow and calming, which got her an approving nod from the pipe-smoking old man of the house.

It started somber, but shy of being truly sad. Everyone listened quietly, many sitting down to do so. Glaysha eventually began singing in her enchanting voice…

“We’ll take that hill at Tovas Mey,
We’ll take that hill today…
We’ll take that hill,
So help us, Goddess,
Or dead, upon, we’ll lay…”

Fortunately, ‘they’ did seem to triumph on the hill, thanks to the heroism of ‘the Champions Three.’ And the Goddess blessed them for their noble effort. But two champions and many more soldiers died in the means, the cost overall quite steep. The listeners were mostly thoughtful and sober in reaction to the little story, with some shedding a few tears.

Sammy, near the end with just the flute going, took her leave to retire, grabbing their things to find the room. It was through a hallway and past a food storage area, everything sparsely lit by small lanterns. She found the door with the hook and proceeded through. It was a small room with very nice wooden furniture.

“Your Majesty,” Azure sent, “If you’d wait until I’m in there before you disappear-”

“Yeah, I get it. In case someone comes in. I’ll wait.”

She set down Azure’s numerous packs, then sat on the bed. A real, legit bed. It was soft… she was sure it was stuffed with feathers. Same for the pillows. The frame was exquisite, with wooden carvings of lions, bears, deer, and other animals, all in panels. If not a master carpenter’s work, close to it.

Love was poured into it. A father’s. I can tell. It could be nothing else, for a couple of farmer’s girls to have a bed fit for a princess.

Sammy smiled softly… and a bit sadly.

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