“How about that ale, old man? Think it's been enough time for Cham to send word of my coming?” he asked.
The hunter shook himself. “Aye! Aye, sorry Kaius. Just didn’t expect to see you again, not so changed, and not after…everything.”
Kaius looked at the hunter sharply. That was…telling. “Didn’t expect me? So you know of the bandits then.”
Jekkar paused, before he started to slump. “Aye, we do. It might be best if we wait for that ale, eh boy? You know I've never been the best with…” he waved his hands around, gesturing at the general air of it all. “This.”
The little sprout of dread in Kaius’s stomach grew just a little more. Jekkar had always been a blunt and to the point man, for him to avoid the topic meant that it was something that even he knew would need a little tact. That meant nothing good.
“Perhaps we best get on to that beer then.” Kaius said softly as Porkchop rested the comforting weight of his head on his shoulder.
Jekkar nodded. “Need any help with the deer?” he replied, changing the subject to more immediate matters.
Kaius took the distraction from the heavy weight of unspoked tales with gratitude. “Nah, Porkchop can carry it. Right?”
Porkchop nodded. “Just throw it on my back.” he said, settling down to make it less of an acrobatic task.
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Jekkar jumped to assistance, helping Kaius toss it over Porkchop’s shoulders, before they set off at an easy pace to the village gates.
“I’ll get it butchered after we reach the inn?” Jekkar asked. “I assume you’ll be staying there, just ‘bout the only place with doors big enough for yer companion to get inside. I can bring it back later, let Hurin and Illendra cook it up nice.”
“What, not gonna take your cut this time?” Kaius teased.
Jekkar barked out a laugh. “Ye get this one freebie, lad. Just this once. Don’t tell anyone though.”
Kaius smiled. “On the gods.”
As they walked, Kaius snapped his head towards the gate as it started to creak open. It seemed Cham had managed to rouse some sort of response.
The thick oaken gate swung open slowly, revealing a small crowd. Jekkar waved, giving assurance that everything was fine. There weren’t too many people, barely a handful, and he recognised every single one. One and all stood stock still, frozen at the sight of him, or perhaps the sight of Porkchop.
Hurin, the innkeeper. Yanmi, the mayor. Eilish, the head of the artisans. Saldar, the elder of the farmers. Illendra.
Kaius froze as he saw her face, memories washing over him. Of the times spent in warm conversation, of her yammering about her latest culinary creation. Of his yearning. It was … gone now, a realisation that settled on his heart with melancholy. She was still absolutely gorgeous, with her piercing turquoise eyes, flaxen hair, and soft features, but it was simple beauty now.
Too much had changed.
Still, he ached to run to her. Few had given him such comfort, and fewer still had treated him with the warmth that she had. Even non reciprocating of his affections, she had still treated him with friendship and kindness.
At some point he’d stopped moving, he realised. Staring at her. With all of his enhanced acuity, he watched the very moment when she realised it was truly him, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Kaius!” Illendra screamed, nearly tripping over her pale yellow dress and apron as she sprinted away from the group that still stood at the threshold to the village.
Jekkar looked back, and saw him frozen a dozen paces behind him. He gave Kaius a grin, and stepped off to the side.
He barely noticed, still frozen as he watched the rapidly approaching streak of yellow cloth and blonde hair.
Porkchop shoved him forwards. “Don’t be rude.”
Stumbling was enough to shake him from his fugue.
He ran, sweeping his oldest friend off her feet and wrapping her in a desperate hug as he spun her through the air.
“Illendra...”
B2 Chapter 133: The Return pt. 3
Kaius spun his old friend through the air, smiling in joy as he set her down on her feet. She didn’t let go.
Illendra clutched him like her grip was the only thing keeping him present. She buried her face into his armoured chest, uncaring about the jagged edges that must have dug their way into her skin.
“Where have you been, Kaius? I thought I lost you.” Illendra asked, her voice small and quivering.
A sad smile crossed his face, and he leaned down to embrace her fully, burying his face in her hair. She smelled of warm bread and spices. “It’s a long story, and a fraught one. I lived though, and I am here, my friend.”
After taking a few more moments to enjoy their reunion, he pulled back. He knew no one in the village would judge them guilty of impropriety, they had been friends as long as he could remember, and no one would hold a since-past childhood crush against him. Not with how tight knit the communities were on the frontier. Still, they would have time for a proper catch up in the coming days. He had introductions to make.
“I’ve got someone I would like you to meet.” Kaius said, giving her a last squeeze before he turned to the side to give Illendra a full view of Porkchop, who was looking on with naked curiosity. He kept his arm around her shoulder.
Porkchop leaned in, crouching down to avoid looming over Illendra. Considering that she was just over a full stride shorter than he was, his bond-brother ended up nearly lying on his belly to see her eye to eye.
“Hello,” Porkchop greeted her warmly. “Kaius told me a lot about you. He said you make really good stew.”
Illendra froze, staring at Porkchop in shock. “Kaius...” she stammered. “I dinnae know if I’m losing my marbles, but did a Forest King just ask me about my stew?”
He chuckled. “He did, he’s grown very fond of my own and I wasn’t about to hide where I learnt it from. His name’s Porkchop.”
Illendra whipped her head back towards him, her eyes narrowing. Kaius paled.
“Now Kaius, I know you dinnae name a Forest King something that daft.” she said, stepping towards him with her hands on her hips.
Kaius chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Well… I mostly suggested it as a joke, Porkchop was the one who decided to keep it.”
Uncanny Dodge flickered as her hand raced out with deceptive swiftness, he ignored the warning as she slapped him upside the head. “Idjit! Swear on the gods, you learnt no respect in that forest. Don’t go trying to foist off the blame onto the bloody greater meles!”
Kaius simply smiled awkwardly as Illendra turned back to Porkchop and bowed in a single fluid motion. “It’s nice to meet ye, Porkchop. I hope this idjit hasn’t been giving you much trouble.”
Chuckling throatily, Porkchop bobbed his head at her in turn. “I can see why you like this one, she’s feisty.” he said to Kaius privately, before he addressed them both. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Kaius is my bond-brother, so don’t be too harsh on him.”
Illendra turned back to him with a cocked brow. “I know not even you would do something like subjugate a Forest King, so I am going to hold my tongue for now.”
“He didn’t.” Porkchop confirmed.
“It’s a part of that long story I mentioned.” Kaius said with a sad smile.
Illendra’s face softened. “I think we’re both going to have hard stories to tell, the kind that are best left for a round table and a few beers. Do you want the elders to hear? They’ll throw a tissy, but I think I can get them to leave off.”