Having left Granite Hills behind, Jed set out for Seven Falls, Gwen at his back and Mythlyn at his hip, the cool morning air already warming as the Eye finished its morning journey. According to Teliya, they should have an easy ride. Not more than a couple hours, even taking it easy.
Roughly an hour outside of Granite Hills, Jed pulled out onto an overlook that gave a view of the winding Infinite to let Mythlyn stretch her wings. Or more accurately, her lack thereof.
In the distance he thought he saw a collection of ships around a port, though even with his rifle the details were tough to make out.
“How are neither of you bothered by the fact her wings are controlled by your chest?” Gwen asked as Mythlyn balanced atop a barrier that had a thousand foot drop on the other side.
Something that had Jed keeping a hand on said chest, just in case she needed her wings back.
“While it would be preferable to control such things myself, I trust him with my existence. Why would I be bothered that he controls whether my wings are manifested or not?” Mythlyn asked, bouncing in place.
“Could you… not do that,” Gwen said, looking over the edge.
“Ah. I suppose that now that I do not have my wings, you are concerned with my safety?”
“I guess I am,” Gwen said, frowning. “That a problem?”
“Do not worry,” Mythlyn said, bouncing once more before leaping off the edge. Jed’s hand was moving even as she vanished in a puff of warp-fire before reappearing at his side, wings fully formed as she cackled wildly. “Ah, your faces. It is delightful to see such genuine concern.”
Jed sat down against the barrier, hard, glaring at Mythlyn. Gwen sat down beside him, and they exchanged a look. Then Jed chuckled, and a second later, so did Gwen.
Wiping tears from his eyes, Jed turned to Mythlyn. “That was the most terrifying thing I’ve had you do since you opened that door to pure vacuum.”
“It was not pure vacuum. The warp was quite strong,” Mythlyn said as she came over and sat on his other side. “However, your point is understood. I apologize. I merely wished to remind you both of my immaterial nature.”
“Did that well enough, I’d say,” Gwen said, shaking her head. “Strange timing to do so, if we’re going to be rolling into town with you alongside.”
“I do not believe that would be the wisest course. I represent a tactical asset, one that is of far more value when others are unaware of it,” Mythlyn said, running a hand through her dark hair.
“After finally getting it so you can join us, you want to stay in your gun?” Gwen asked, looking to Jed.
“I can forestall a short time, to ensure we achieve our goals. Unless you have decided not to interfere in the social constructs of the region?”
“Slaves. We’re freeing slaves,” Gwen said.
“Indentured servants wrongfully convicted are not slaves, no matter the similarities,” Mythlyn said. “However, I do not object. I merely thought we wished to optimize the success of such a course of action.”
“Technically correct, the worst kind of correct,” Jed said, shaking his head. “But yes, we want to do what we can. Not at the cost of our lives or anything, and maybe we’ll want to wait for Metsa and Sotas…”
“But we’re gonna wreck those collars,” Gwen said, smacking her hand into her fist.
“Are you sure you do not simply wish to kill the marshals. Without my wings, I could likely kill them all with little difficulty. The men of hex six-oh-six seem to have poor threat assessment when it comes to women.”
A gust of wind blew past, drowning out Gwen’s response.
“Wow, get’s gusty here,” Gwen said, reaching up to check her hat was secure, Jed having done exactly the same.
“So it would seem. Perhaps it would be wise for the two of you to step away from the edge,” Mythlyn said, with what Jed realized was a tone of genuine worry.
“Wait, after that whole display, are you worried about us falling?” Gwen asked, pushing against Mythlyn’s shoulder, only to wince. Then her face turned into a puzzled grimace as she looked at her hand. “Huh. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“With how much you increased your warp-stability, I should hope not,” Mythlyn said even as she took hold of both Gwen and Jed’s arms, tugging them away from the barrier towards the nearby warp-stallion. “And I am not worried. I am simply… optimizing your safety.”
“Holy Empress, you are. You’re worried about us,” Gwen said, grabbing Mythlyn’s hand and pulling her into one of the dance positions she and Jed had been practicing.
Jed stepped back just in time to catch Mythlyn as Gwen sent her into a twirl.
“This is most…” Mythlyn frowned as she rested against him for a second. “Most definitely an improvement.”
Then she spread her wings wide, leapt forward, and snatched a squealing Gwen by the shoulders and lifted into the air.
“So much for being worried about falling,” Jed said, chuckling as he moved back over and sat down on the barrier. He sat silently, watching Mythlyn and Gwen soar upwards.
They didn’t go too far before coming back, Mythlyn dropping Gwen into a tumbling roll before vanishing in a burst of warp-fire.
“That is a good deal more tiring than I expected,” Mythlyn sent, her exhaustion carrying through in the warbling tone of her message.
“You snatched me and took me into the sky!” Gwen said, turning about as if looking for Mythlyn. Finally, her eyes landed on Jed’s hip. “That was… is that what flight feels like?”
“I suspect it feels somewhat different, though some aspects are similar. There is more control, when one is the master of their flight.”
“How long were we up for anyway?”
“Maybe ten seconds?” Jed said, wiggling his hand.
“Wow. Felt like longer,” Gwen said, coming over and plopping down beside him.
“It certainly did. I suspect due to the excitement of the experience.”
“Surprised you found it exciting too,” Jed said as he put an arm around Gwen, who leaned into him.
“I have never attempted to carry someone before. I must admit, I had not considered how worried I would be that I might drop her.”
“It’s okay, I trust you,” Gwen said, patting the revolver on his hip.
“What do you two say we take this show on the road?”
“I suppose it is too early to come up with a precise plan. And a well prepared meal would not go amiss.”
“Sounds good, partners,” Gwen said, squeezing Jed before letting go and moving over to the bike.
Jed’s hip flared with warmth for a second, despite the cold of the wet wind blowing over them. He patted the revolver. “Yeah. I heard it too. Let’s go, partner.”
…Isekai-eh…
Seven Falls could’ve gotten away with the name Hundred Falls, and Jed doubted anyone would’ve objected.
The titular seven did make a path through the center of the town, each one dozens of meters wide, if not more. Yet to the sides were so many other smaller falls that even were he so inclined, Jed doubted he could’ve counted them all. It was very beautiful.
And very wet.
Even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and with the warp-stallion’s windscreen that usually kept him from experiencing the worst of the weather, he had water streaming down his face.
Thankfully it eased up somewhat as they rode into the main part of town. Well, one of the main parts. There were archeotech lifts built into the walls, stepping their way up along either side of the seven falls, and between most, there were more buildings.
Jed found himself impressed with the locals as he parked the bike outside what he was reasonably sure was an inn, based on the bed-shaped sign. As standardized as the Architects might’ve been, the humans who now lived on Tersue Reng were far from it.
“What do you think the odds are they’ll be looking for us?” Jed asked as he climbed off the bike.
“Won’t matter. Marshals on this side of the peaks are a separate chapter,” Gwen said, gesturing towards the nearby waterway. The one that split the town. “Soon as you rode over that little patch of water, we left their territory.”
“Meaning we’re probably going to have to go back there to finish our business,” Jed said, shaking his head.
“Guess so,” Gwen said. Then she hit his shoulder. “But we can do that later. For now, civilization.”
“Shower would be nice.”
“And a bed where neither you or Mythlyn have to pull pillow duty.”
“I have come to enjoy pillow duty. There is something quite wonderful about having you both resting in my lap.”
“Well, it’s better when it’s a choice instead of forced, right?”
“Most thing are, yes.”
“Bigger bed,” Jed said as they pushed through the wooden door. Of course, he trailed off when he realized it was not, in fact an inn.
“Well…” Gwen said as they looked around at the hundred or so beds on display in the open room. “They definitely have bigger beds.”
After receiving directions from the bedding store, they found a nice inn and settled in for the evening. Jed couldn’t help noting the inn had a very similar sign.
The next morning they started getting familiar with Seven Falls, their first stop the local Hunter’s Hall.
While not as impressive as the one in Vaskerville, the market was just as diverse. The mission hall also had their own version of Gerty, though she was the size of a child, if a bit more red-skinned and womanly. Even had little red horns.
“You old bastards didn’t hear? Messages outta Vaskerville aren’t coming in anymore. Heard the whole Hall got taken out by the Imperial Guard.”
“How’d you hear that, if messages aren’t coming in,” Gwen said, glaring down at the little imp.
“Hunters coming here to escape the fallout. They talk. Like that one right there,” she said, pointing at a man in dark clothes and a gray cloak coming up behind them.
“Somnus,” Jed said, a small smile slipping onto his face.
“Jed! Gwen! Good to see our efforts weren’t wasted,” the man said, stepping forward to shake Jed’s hand. “After what happened in Vaskerville… well, I’m glad you’re both alright?”
“What did happen in Vaskerville? The imp said the Imperial Guard destroyed the Hunter’s Hall?” Jed asked, gesturing behind him.
“Imp?” both Gwen and the short woman asked at the same time. Jed was already leading Somnus away by the time Gwen broke out into laughter.
“Was the marshals. Boltom family came down hard. Tried to ambush Metsa and Sotas too, but we fought back,” the man said, smacking his hand into his fist. “We were gonna take back the whole city, but then the Imperial Guard rolled in, escorting this fancy lady. Heard talk she’s from the capital itself.”
“Was it one of my sisters? No. Not if it was merely the guard. One of the lesser priestesses, perhaps?”
“And they pushed you out?”
“Well… no,” Somnus admitted as they arrived at one of the side nooks, Gwen having jogged over to catch up. “After the Guard showed up, I decided things were getting a bit too Imperial for me. Especially with Metsa and Sotas deciding their time in Vaskerville was done.”
“Wait, they’re leaving Vaskerville,” Gwen said, grabbing Somnus’ jacket.
“That’s what I heard. They lost almost everything. Their place got hit the hardest by whatever the marshals used,” Somnus said, using both hands to pry Gwen’s grip away from his jacket and pushing her back.
Gwen flopped down right into Jed’s lap, curling up against him even as she looked over at Somnus. “Be honest. How much of that’s our fault?”
“Assuming you’re responsible for that bit of archeotech lighting up, I’d say like fifty-fifty,” Somnus said with a shrug. “Metsa knows what she’s doing. Probably figured you two were worth the risk. As for why…” Somnus looked about the room, before looking back to them. “I figure it’s better if I never know the details.”
“You know, I owe you an apology,” Gwen said, shifting out of Jed’s lap to sit beside him, offering Somnus her hand. “Thought you were a shady jerk, but you’re alright.”
“Oh hell no,” Somnus said, waving her off. “I’m not a hero or anything. Metsa paid me for my help. And I’ve made my share of bad calls. Gerty probably told you, I’m no saint. But you’re one of us, and that means something.”
“Well… sorry, anyway,” Gwen said.
“Water under the bridge,” Somnus said, grimacing. “And man do they have too much of that here. There’s a reason I stuck to Vaskerville.”
“Think you’re going to travel downriver, explore six-oh-seven?”
“Not if I can help it,” Somnus said. “Place is a bigger mess than six-oh-six, way I hear it. No. I’ll do a few jobs around here, save up enough to book passage on a pleasure wheeler running counter-ring and go see what six-oh-five has to offer. I hear they have these amazing little pleasure palaces.”
Jed laughed at the expression on Gwen’s face, earning himself an elbow and a smile from his partner.
After Somnus bid them farewell, they set out for their next destination. The Boltom family compound.
“Looks kinda boring, doesn’t it?” Gwen asked, handing Jed a pair of binoculars, which they’d acquired at the Hunter’s market at Jed’s insistence. He was tired of having to use his scope anytime he wanted a better look at something.
It was also allowing them to peep on the Boltom compound from the comfort of their balcony. Holding the binoculars up, Jed panned over the compound. “Yeah. Nothing exciting about four armed guards, barbed wire fence and… is that an archeotech turret? How did they even get that?”
“Looks like it was part of the original construction,” Gwen said, leaning forward to lean on their balcony railing. “And that’s not the point. The bad guy’s lair isn’t supposed to look like some super-nice family home with a veggie garden out back.”
“I regret to inform you that most of the awful people I’ve known have pleasant homes. My own home boasted no less than seven such ‘veggie gardens’, as well as a flowered labyrinth I assisted in the maintenance of myself on several occasions.”
“I’d like to see your place. I bet it’s nice,” Gwen said, gazing into the distance.
“It was quite beautiful. However, I doubt there is anything left. Perhaps a memorial to my foolishness.”
“Yeah, but…”
Jed missed what was said next as he saw a familiar face approach the compound through the lenses of the binoculars. It was the marshal with the scar, not-angry marshal man, astride his large black elkheart. To Jed’s surprise, the man didn’t go inside.
In fact, Jed thought he might have to reassess his earlier opinion, as the man could apparently get angry. Specifically with the old man who’d come out to greet him.
After a minute of increasingly hostile dialog, during which Jed thought the marshal might actually draw his weapon, he departed.
The marshal crossed over to their side of the river, slowly winding amongst the buildings before suddenly, changing course and making his way…
Directly to their hotel.