Book 2 Ch 22: Gemini

By the third day of travel, Michael was getting a much better idea of what Swandia was like. There were wide plains, much like in Svict, but they were less rocky and craggy and were instead covered primarily in an emerald green grass that often gave way to large patches of wildflowers or thick collections of thornbushes. There were small forests, but nothing as thick as those of Stent and large rivers frequently criss-crossed their path, many filled with men and women travelling by boat or ferry. It reminded him of a dreadful trip he’d taken with his wife and daughter down the Mississippi river that had involved the worst food poisoning of his life. That had been a shame. They’d all really loved the catfish.

“You alright, mate?” asked Ollie, knocking on his pauldron with a closed fist.

“I’m fine, just thinking of my old life, as one does.”

“You know, I don’t do that much actually.”

“Really?” asked Michael.

“I don’t think the rest of us left quite as much behind as you did. I got some friends I’m missing, who’re probably getting drunk about me being gone, but no real family or wife.”

“Really?” asked Michael. “I’m surprised.”

Ollie frowned. “Come on mate, you’re supposed to say ‘that doesn’t surprise me’ or ‘you had friends?’, that sincerity shit always throws me off.”

Michael shrugged. “I know we joke, but you’re a personable guy. I thought you’d have at least had a serious girlfriend.”

“Well, I’d had a few,” he said with a smile and wink. “But not when I died.”

“So what are you thinking about if not wistfully wondering what the people from your old life are up to?”

“Magic, food, women, shelter, what kind of life I can build here, if Marcus has more money tucked away than the rest of us realize.”

“Oh, I wonder about that last one too. Probably, right?” asked Michael.

Ollie nodded. “Almost definitely. Probably has it all hidden up his ass.”

“That and a spare rifle I’d guess.”

They shared a laugh.

“You know awareness is my highest boon right?” asked Marcus looking at them over his shoulder.

“Shit some gold about it,” replied Ollie, still laughing.

“If only I could. I would’ve just moved into a room at the Velvet Embrace and never left.”

“Now that’s a way to spend a second life,” said Pyotr. “I’d still need some kind of challenge though. Perhaps I could teach some whores ballet.”

Davi shook his head. “I really missed out, huh?”

“Nah, you were just focused on quality over quantity,” said Ollie. “Franny was quite a piece.”

Davi nodded. “That’s true…if you ever meet her again don’t call her Franny.”

Devahn laughed up ahead with Lys.

“I think they’re going to fit in well with the others, eh?”

“Sadly I think they’ll integrate perfectly. I was hoping I might be bringing in an elevating element.” She shrugged. “Oh well. At least they seem good at fighting.”

Toward the afternoon on the third day, a city came into view, the first one Michael had seen since he arrived in this new world. It was built with a large river running up its center and dozens of low one to two story buildings that reminded him of the Tudor style houses in his old neighborhood. The foot traffic grew heavier and soon they found themselves dodging large merchant wagons, carriages carrying important officials, and dozens of random pedestrians just going about their business. They drew a fair number of stares as they walked, but Michael felt that had more to do with the size of Devahn than their armor since they saw a number of others walking around.

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As they passed through the market square a woman with short cut black hair wearing heavily layered green cloth armor with a long stave bouncing off her hip waved in their direction with a hand absolutely covered in rings and bracelets.

“Devahn, Lys you’re back!” she said enthusiastically as she approached. She embraced Lys who awkwardly returned the gesture, and then Devahn who returned it more organically.

“Are these the new recruits?” she asked as she looked them over.

“Yes,” said Lys. “We only just arrived with them and were heading to the manor with them now.”

“The manor?” asked Davi.