Multi-Tailed Trouble: Part 3
We entered through the front gate to the town. Just entering the market area, the place was already crowded, despite being late afternoon. The town was known as Aquaview, Not a creative name from its founders, but the town is connected to the ocean and is known for having the largest fish trade in the world! Personally, I'm not a huge fan of fish, but from the look on Lehkuna's face when we passed by a merchant selling freshly caught fish, I guess she really liked them. We stopped by an inn closer to the center of the town.
I turned to Lehkuna, "We can stop here tonight, we should continue on tomorrow." I paid the inn keeper for a night. "Which way do we go from here?" I asked. She paused for a second and said, "We should head eastwards next."
"Okay, I'll stock back up on supplies tomorrow and then we should be off." I said. "Alright," she said, "But before we rest, can we get something to eat?" she whined. I'm hungry myself, "Okay," I said, "follow me." We walked over to a merchant selling freshly caught and cooked fish. "I'll take one." I told him and he handed me a salmon steak, which I gave him the money to buy it. I gave her the salmon, and she basically devoured it. In the corner of my eye, I could see two children watch, like they've seen some sort of monster. The sun soon set over the houses and we both went back to the inn.
We entered our room and there were two beds on opposite sides neatly made. I closed the window and said, "You can pull out your tails and ears if you want to." We were on the second floor with no one below or to the right and left of us, so no one should be able to hear us. The moon was already out as well. I backed up, and I guess I backed into her because I could feel her chest press against me, she was slightly taller than me, I think my eye level is at her nose. She quickly wrapped her hands around me followed by three of her tails.
She jumped back onto the bed on the left side of the room, and nearly knocked the wind out of me, "The salmon was really good! Thank you!" she said excitedly. She slipped toward the left side of me, "Uh, great." I said, "Can you let me go now?" I looked over to her and she was already asleep. This was really uncomfortable for me. I had to get some sleep though, I managed to wriggle free from her. I got up from the bed, then I reached under the bed for a blanket then covered her with it._ If someone comes into this room, they won't notice at first, hopefully._
I went to the bed on the right and lied down. I covered myself with the blanket under the bed and soon fell asleep. I woke up because I could hear footsteps down the hallway. I got up a put my ear to the door. "Come on! They must be down here!" Called a males voice. Before I could do anything a small green ball rolled under the door, and smoke began to pour out of it. The smoke made me choke. I shook Lehkuna awake, "What's going on?" She said tiredly, she then noticed the smoke pouring into the room. I try to open the window but I end up passing out.
"Nngh..." I groaned. I got up and looked to the bed on the left. Lehkuna was gone! Those people must've kidnapped her. Before I left the room, I grabbed my satchel but I noticed a small slip of paper before leaving. I picked it up and it said, 'We have the girl... Go to the church... Meziba...' Uh... Meziba? What the hell is that supposed to mean? This might be a trap itself... Without thinking out a plan I run over to the church. It looked more like a library though. I walked through a second doorway and on the other side of it was stained glass and a podium. To the right there was a bookcase. Obviously a hidden door... I walked over to the bookcase and pulled down random books until one stuck in place. I backed up and the shelf moved on it's own.
There was a small opening behind it, I stepped inside. It began getting dark so I walked close to the wall. After a bit, I could see a small flicker of light. Walking close to it, it turned into a large and open room. Looking around it seemed to be a sacrifice chamber and right there in the middle, were men in strange robes and... Lehkuna! "Let me go!" she yelled. The man turned to me and spoke, "Ah, Aeron, welcome!" The voice sounded familiar, I was about to speak when he pulled down his hood. "Dovev? Should've known..." I whispered to myself. Dovev used to live in my village. He was a huge bully, he even set a few houses ablaze in my village. Mine was next but castle soldiers caught him and arrested him. Before that, he would specifically target me, he'd take away anything I was fond of. He'd break into my home and use a knife on me. I'd go to sleep and wake up with cuts that would seem fatal.
"Let me go!" Lehkuna screamed. Devov covered her mouth with his hand. "Listen girl, what do you plan to achieve with an appearance like that? Aeron is afraid of you! He'll just abandon you the next chance he gets!"
"That's not true Devov! Give me the girl..." I said.
"And why should I do that?" He held his arms out, in his left hand, it looked like a traditional knife. He doesn't mean to sacrifice Lehkuna does he? Looking back at Lehkuna I could see she hasn't hidden her tails and ears._ They may see her as a demon of some sort... I need to get her out of here quickly._ "I said, 'give me the girl Devov!" I yelled. He replied, "And why should I do that?" In a more taunting tone.
I reached in my satchel, "Uh, uh, uh," He said shaking his finger, "No tricks or else..." He held the knife point over Lehkuna's chest. "What do you want?" I asked. He lowered the knife away from her heart._ Now's my chance!_ I threw a small blue orb straight at his head. It hit him right between the eyes causing him to stagger back and drop his knife. I pulled up a hanker chief to cover my mouth and nose. The orb hit the ground and smoke poured from it. It's a smoke bomb with a twist, I added chili powder, it'll make it harder for them to breathe in it. Once I heard coughing, I ran into the smoke and pulled out my knife. I cut the straps holding Lehkuna down. "Time to go!" I yelled. I picked her up, she didn't weigh as much as she appeared. I ran through the way I came, "After them!" I heard Devov call out.
I looked back and I could see them run down the long corridor. When we reached the end I put Lehkuna down and pushed back the false book so the book case would lock back in place. "Hide your tails and ears now." We quickly exited the church." We need to quickly restock on supplies and leave the town, now. We went over to a merchant and restocks on food and water then quickly went through the east gate. I looked back to make sure we weren't being followed, gladly, we weren't. The town was no longer in sight. "Okay, we can rest now." We slowed our pace to take a breather.
Lehkuna turned to me and said, "Thank you, Aeron... and about what that man said back there, about you being afraid of me and abandoning me... that's not true is it?"
I replied, "The part about me being afraid of you, was true at the start... but abandoning you? I've been abandoned by my parents, no one should know what it feels like. I won't abandon you..." We continued down the dirt path when she asked, "You promise?" I remained in silent for a second when I finally said, "I promise..." Looking in the corner of my eye I think I could see her smile...