They weren't telling me something, but I knew better than to dwell on it.

Odds are it was for a good reason.

At least, that was what I was betting on. Light and the rest manipulating me…? Not a surprise at all. But would Renn…?

Glancing at my wife, who was smiling happily as she tied the large bundle together on Merit's bed, I wondered if I might have put myself in a very… precarious situation.

"We'll get wagons at the Smithy," Merit said as she justified her reason for so much luggage.

"Ah… we might need to, huh? Lellip plans to take stuff to work on armor too, that's all heavy," Renn said with a nod as she thought about it.

I shifted, unsure if I should voice an opinion or not. It wasn't as if it'd matter, anyway.

I'd not be joining them on such a venture. I'd instead head west. At full speed.

To save the same people who had abandoned us.

Again.

Taking a small breath, I tossed such thoughts away as I glanced to the nearby wall. Near the door. Merit had nearly half a dozen bags, though most were smaller there were a couple that were essentially giant packs. One of them had Renn's paintings, which somewhat justified their size but…

"What even is this…?" Renn asked as she studied an abacus.

"A tool for calculating," I said as I watched Renn slide some of the beads up and down, smiling as she did.

"Calculating…?" Renn whispered, and I could see her trying to make sense of the tool as she messed with it. It was kind of adorable how she tilted her head and her ears fluttered as she did.

Just how come I found her so utterly captivating…? I mean, she was, but typically that wasn't a good enough reason for me to fall so head over heels for someone. I could barely get my eyes off her right now, and as such was neglecting my duty. I was supposed to already be on the road, heading for the coast. To save a ship. Yet here I was… wondering if I should spend the next few years just teaching Renn everything I knew of math and its forms. Neglecting all else in the process…

"Vim."

I looked away from the only thing in this world that was adorable enough to justify my patience, and looked down at Merit… who was holding up a letter.

"Hm?" I took her letter, still enclosed, and wondered just what she expected me to do with it. I was to head to the coast, bypassing pretty much all other locations… so who was it she expected me to encounter and deliver this to before anyone else could?

"I'm told Nasba's cousin will be amongst them. One of the leaders of the expedition. You probably don't remember her, but when you see her you'll recognize her. Tressi looks, or at least had looked, just like Nasba. Down to all but the feathers," Merit said.

I frowned at that but nodded. Tressi…? I remembered her, but only barely. She had not joined Nasba who had followed Merit like a lost puppy, until the fall of her kingdom, but instead had joined the Society proper. I couldn't really remember what she had done, or where she had gone… likely because she had gotten involved in the church. "Wonder what Nasba thinks of that," I said.

Merit sighed. "She'll likely be overjoyed. The birdbrain is too simple, she'll forget all about being abandoned and just happily hug her family member," Merit said.

"If they all are coming back like this… did they really abandon us?" Renn asked as she put the abacus down.

Merit turned and nodded. "Of course they had, Renn. Just because they're coming back now doesn't negate the century we've had to survive alone without them," Merit said.

"Of course I agree, Merit, but I mean… couldn't they argue the same?" Renn asked.

Merit shifted as she glanced at me, and then looked back at Renn. "What do you mean…?" Merit worriedly asked.

I knew Merit had already realized Renn's meaning, and couldn't help but smile softly as I put her little letter into my own bag at my side. I'd deliver it, or at least will try to. Supposedly, per Renn's warning, the ship I was meant to find… could possibly sink not just before I find it, but after too.

I was trying not to read in-between the lines of such a warning. I was good at that, since it was how I used to deal with Celine's warning way back in the day.

"Well… Couldn't the rest of us have gone with them? If the whole Society had left with them, maybe it would have worked out better?" Renn suggested, easily giving the argument that Light and any of her people would likely use to justify their own actions. An argument that did in fact make sense, to a point at least.

Merit didn't answer, not right away. Instead she just lowered her head a little. "Then why would they come back all of a sudden?"

"Why indeed," I said simply.

The two glanced at me, and I could tell they were both waiting for me to expand on that. But I didn't… because I didn't know. I'd not asked. I didn't want to ask.

I mean… it was obvious, wasn't it? There was no reason to ask, or question it. At least, in my opinion.

They had saints. Light alone was powerful enough to reason the cause away. Let alone the rest of them.

Their return was without a doubt for only a singular reason. One that was likely mundane, but serious.

They'd returned to survive. Nothing more. The reason, the underlying cause, was of no importance.

I sighed, and gestured lightly at Merit. "Three of you should be able to carry all of this… but it won't be comfortable. Maybe you should get a horse or two," I suggested.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"That was the plan? We'll take a few of the horses from the company, and then get a wagon or two at the Smithy," Merit said, sounding annoyed I'd both switched topics and called out how much junk she had.

Nodding gently, I glanced at Renn… and wished I wasn't leaving.

Why'd she have to look so… Well… Good? She had a happy smile on her face, one not of worry or stress but pure joy and glee. She looked like she was having the time of her life. Likely was. It was that same happy smirk she wore when we took baths together, or at least the smile she wore as she got into the bath. That smirk typically morphed into one far more sensuous, with more blushing, as the bath went on.

But I knew the reason for it. Right now she was excited. Happy. Even if we were about to separate, once again, for an indifferent amount of time.

To her she was about to embark on a wonderful journey. One with her closest friends, to accomplish something she believed to be one of the most important things she's ever done. To build a home not just for herself, for us, but for many others… many people she cherished and adored.

Honestly I couldn't fault her for getting excited over it… even if it made me terribly upset to know she was going to be doing all that without me.

"Don't linger here. Leave the moment you are ready," I said to her.

Renn glanced at me, her tail twitched as she nodded. "I know, Vim. I promise. Light even wants us to go swiftly, too, oddly."

"That means there's a reason for it. Which worries me," Merit said.

"And you don't know the reason?" I asked her.

Merit shook her small head. "No. We were only told in detail about the ship."

I sighed and nodded. "Then that is on purpose too," I said, and decided to return to their side the moment I could.

"No doubt. But it's fine. If it was something really bad she would have said so, I think," Renn said as she stepped over to me.

"I'd be careful thinking that, Renn. More than a few of us have lost our lives thinking such a thing, not realizing how serious the danger is," Merit warned.

I nodded. "Yes. Celine had been the same way. Their lack of informing us of a prophecy might be for the best, since in doing so something worse might happen, but that doesn't mean the lesser of evils is any safer and…" I slowly stopped talking as Renn drew even closer. Close enough that it was kind of odd, considering the here and now and what we'd been talking about.

I stood up a little straighter as she got close, and for a tiny heartbeat I focused on her smell. It was something I'd not smell again for a time, again, so shortly after the last time.

"Will you… stop there? On your way back?" she then asked, while standing so close I could feel her body heat. She wasn't radiating it, but it was noticeable enough. Especially here in Merit's cold room.

"Stop where?" I asked carefully. Why would I linger? Anywhere? I'll be rushing back to your arms once I could, the moment I could. I'd kill that monarch and would depart before its blood even dries on my hands.

"Your little cave," she said with a smirk.

Oh. I blinked and frowned… as I slowly nodded. "I… could, yes." Was she speaking of the rings I planned to make? Or rather, the gems I'd make them from? Or did she have another reason to ask? Merit was here, in the room; listening and watching. Hopefully she didn't say anything too… important. I trusted Merit with Renn, amongst other things, but that cave was mine and mine alone. I'd not told or shown it to anyone, ever, before her.

Renn then giggled as she reached over and gently patted my chest, as if to praise me for being a good dog or something. My brain seemed to shut down for a moment as she did so… She then turned and nodded to her friend. "Let's hurry and finish packing, Merit," she said, dismissing me as if I was no longer even here.

Wanting to say, or do something, that would make her blush and yelp in embarrassment… I chose not to as I instead nodded and sighed. "Safe travels, you two. I'll tell Lilly to meet you both at the gate," I said. We'd already planned on how they'd meet up with her as to head back west together.

Odds are they'd reach the Smithy, then Telmik, and head north before I returned to them. Even though it'd not take me too long to reach the coast, I had no real idea of knowing how long I'd be there. All Renn and Merit had told me was that I needed to go there, find the inlet where others were waiting, and then save a ship of our people that is going to be attacked by a monarch. One intending to land near Vorli, which was a very small fishing town a hundred odd miles south of Kaley's Hamlet.

"Get going already," Merit simply said.

Right, right… I knew I had already lingered longer than I needed to, but still… Why couldn't I say goodbye to my wife? What was so wrong with that?

It's not like I'd even gotten a kiss or anything, either. Didn't she just recently snivel about me not kissing her when I left and returned? Why didn't she do it here and now then? That had been a great opportunity for it, hadn't it? Or was it my fault. Maybe she had been expecting me to do it…

I contemplated that, heavily, as I turned and grabbed the door's handle.

"When you get to Telmik, don't linger there. For Lilly's sake," I warned them.

"We heard you the first time," Merit said stiffly.

Renn though smiled and nodded. "You sure you don't want your spear, Vim…?" she asked, again.

"He said no the first time. You both need to learn how to listen," Merit groaned as she went back to packing a small bag.

"You keep it," I said. Renn nodded… and for a small moment we stared at each other, until I decided it was time. If I kept lingering like this, even Renn would find it odd. "Later," I said gently, feeling stupid as I did.

"Bye, Vim! I believe in you!" Renn said as she waved at me. I nodded gently as I opened the door and left Merit's room… and shut the door behind me as I did.

Standing right outside the door, with my hand still on the handle, I looked up and wanted to groan.

I should have just kissed her! Or at least said something! Even if I was in a hurry and even if she didn't seem to mind… what if we were separated for months again?

"He didn't kiss you goodbye," Merit's voice, spoken quietly, whispered through the door.

My shoulders tensed, and I realized they hadn't noticed I'd not left. Not an odd thing to do, since I sometimes walked quietly enough that not even Renn could hear me do so. "No. But it's okay," Renn said, speaking just as quietly.

No. It wasn't.

Opening the door, the two jumped a little as I stepped back into the room.

"Wha!" Merit seemed most startled, but I knew it was not because she had genuinely thought I had left. Instead it was because I nodded and stepped over to Renn.

Although Renn had been surprised upon my re-entry, she didn't fight me at all as I gave her a kiss. One that was honestly a tad too deep, and too long, for the moment. Especially with Merit watching. I had pulled her into it, but hadn't really grabbed hold of her… so after a long moment our lips separated, as she leaned back a bit and away from me, as if suddenly dizzy and unable to stand up straight. I didn't pursue her, or grab hold, since Merit's bed was right behind her.

Renn actually stepped backward, slumping down and sitting on Merit's bed as she did. She looked up at me with huge eyes; shocked to such a degree she didn't seem to even realize what had just happened. Odds are she wasn't even aware she was now sitting down, based off the look on her face.

I licked my lips and nodded, feeling suddenly content and confident that I could leave now.

"There. Now there's no chance in hell any of them will be able to woe your heart while I'm away again," I said, deciding that was enough. The sight of her flushed face, and how stiff her tail and ears were was proof enough.

Merit made an odd noise, gaping at us, but I ignored her as I nodded one last time.

Turning away, I side-glanced Merit, and was glad to see how surprised she was. Her face had even gone a little pale.

"You should leave more often, if that's the kind of stuff you're going to do!" Renn shouted as I left the room once more, this time without closing the door behind me.

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