“Yeh don’t need no more. People be afraid, because yer seem to do one thing, then another.” She coughed, embarrassed, but pressed on. “Yer our lord. We’ll do anythin’ yer want, just command us. Don’t go mental wit’ rage, ‘cos that’s scary as hell. Most of the people back there think iff’n yer wanted the day to last longer, yeh’d just grab the sun and make it stay still.”
“I’m not a God, Lydia; I’m just a man.” I muttered shamefacedly.
“Yer a man who talks to the Gods. Yeh don’t call ‘er ‘the Great and Powerful Goddess Jenae’; yeh just call ‘er ‘Jenae’. Yeh found a real Goddess, yeh conquered a Great Tower and kilt a SporeMother. They believe in yeh…an’ so do I.” Her voice was quiet, but it held an unshakable confidence. “Yeh’ll do the right thing, yer just need a little help from those of us that follow yer now and then; that’s all.” I studied her face for a moment, seeing the pride and conviction in her eyes, and I smiled gratefully.
“Thank you, Lydia. I’ll try my best to be worthy of that trust,” I promised, and she smiled properly at me. It was like the sun coming out from a cloudy sky, and I realized she’d never smiled like that around me before. It was genuine and bright, and it made me feel better immediately.
I took a deep breath, shifting my attention up to the raised deck, and sighed. I knew what I had to do next.
“I’ve got an apology to make, I think. He’s a good man, and I scared him,” I said, and she laughed, breaking the spell.
“He’s a cantankerous little bastard of a dwarf, but he’s all right, I guess.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I agreed with her and headed towards the upper deck. Lydia called out from behind me, and I acknowledged her with a wave.
“I’ll get the squad ready, my lord.” she said, her footsteps heading toward the bow where most of them waited, snapping at them to gather around. Oracle alighted on my shoulder again and spoke to me in a small voice.
“This is my fault again, Jax. I’m so sorry.” I looked up to her and we locked eyes, the turmoil in my own gaze matching the concern in hers.
“It really isn’t. Yeah, what happened with us hasn’t helped, it’s true, but it’s not your fault. I always had problems with my temper, and so did…does…Tommy. I just need to learn a bit of control again, that all.”
“I’ll help, just tell me what you need,” she whispered, and I smiled sadly at her.
“Maybe we should talk tonight, see if all that tree-hugging, touchy-feely crap helps, huh?” I said, and she immediately perked up.
“Touchy-feely?” she asked excitedly, and I groaned before realizing she was winding me up. As she took off, I cursed, realizing she’d gotten me again. I knew she was trying to distract me, and I was thankful for it.
I crossed the raised deck to Oren, where he stood calmly next to Jory. As I paused next to him, we both spoke at once.
“I’m sorry, dude, I…”
“I’m sorry, Jax, I shouldna…” We both stopped and looked at each other, bursting into laughter.
“I’m sorry, man, I lost my temper. I’ll do better.” I grinned at him, and he nodded, replying quickly.
“Ach, yer th’ lord. Yer in charge. I’m sorry I stepped in, ‘specially for shits like them.” He inclined his head toward the remnants of the cage, where Bob still stood guard over the four now thoroughly cowed criminals.
“Hah, no worries, man. I’m glad you did, even though a part of me disagrees, even now!” I said, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry too, Oren. This is my fault, and you were right earlier. We did bond too deeply; how did you know?” Oracle asked, and Oren grinned up at her.
“Ach, dinna worry, lass. It doesna matter… as to the bond… well, let’s jus’ say tha’ I’ve seen it happen… a long time ago, ye know, over eighty years back now, when I were a wee nipper, but still…” He ran his hands through his beard, combing it out. “Ma cousin, he were popular wit’ the ladies, iff’n ye take ma meanin’, and well, he mighta made a bond wit’ a nymph. He wouldna say, but we all knew, ye ken? He started to get a bit… wild… chasin’ anythin’ in a skirt, then jus’ anythin! No one knows whut happen’d to ‘im, but there was a rumor about ‘im askin’ about a dragon’s nest, and ‘e were never seen again. Th’ family were all warned after, dinna bond wit’ nothin’ that don’t own a distillery!” Oren shrugged at us, and we simply stared back at him. “All tha’ were ever found were ‘is pants…” he said quietly, nodding as he looked into the distance.
“So… you got that we had an emotional resonance from a cautionary tale about your cousin trying to bang a dragon?” I asked slowly, and he nodded firmly. “Dude, you are so full of shit.” I shook my head, and when he started to speak up, I just held up my hand to stop him.
“I don’t think we need to hear it, man. Seriously. I…just concentrate on the ship, okay? How long ‘til we’re ready to land?”
“Do we want to?” Oren asked, raising an eyebrow. “Canna see why we’d do tha’; can we no just let down a ladder?”
“Okay, that’s far more sensible; let’s do that. How long?” I repeated my question, and he shrugged.
“About five minutes, iff’n ye quit pesterin’ me!”
“Fine; let me and my team, plus those four idiots, climb down. Then you should take off and follow us at a distance while we check the ship and explore the area. We’ll see what we find, and
