“I don’t wish to fight,” Calam said to Daniel. “And I have no delusions that, despite my ability to use magic, I would surely fall from so many attacking me at once. Please, understand that I am sworn to secrecy with this. If you wish to kill me you may, there’s no way I could defeat you all. Just know that I am offering you the chance to see your mate again, one who is waiting for you to come see her.”
“He’s not going to Stonegate with you!” Triska shouted. “No fucking way in hell!”
“Whatever you’re playing with us, it’s about to come to a swift end,” Clover warned as she prepared to fire her arrow.
Daniel walked around Triska and Clover, holding a hand up to halt them as he carefully watched Calam standing before him without fear.
“Is my mate alive?” he demanded.
“Of course,” Calam reassured. “She’s the one who told me what to say to you.”
“But she didn’t give any explanation for what happened to her or why she’s in Stonegate? Why wouldn’t she mention those crucial details? Why wouldn’t she come here herself and instead send you?”
“For the same reason that I cannot divulge such information,” Calam answered with a shrug. “This matter is very delicate and not to be spoken of so freely. I can honestly say that she did want to come see you herself, but for reasons I cannot speak of she was unable to.”
“Falla?” Daniel asked glancing back to his mate.
“I think she’s telling the truth,” Falla said with a sharp look on the ant girl. “There’s no tension in her voice at all. Her eyes and words don’t say she’s lying.”
“I see,” Daniel mused, turning his inspecting gaze back onto Calam. “So let me get this straight. Kroanette wants me to come see her in Stonegate, but neither she nor you can tell me why she’s there or how she got there?”
“That’s correct,” Calam agreed with a nod.
“Can you offer any proof that you know her other than her name?”
“I believe that would be okay for me to disclose,” Calam reasoned looking up thoughtfully. “Let’s see, she’s said quite a lot about you besides the fact that you’re her mate. Oh yes. You saved her life when she was going to drown in a flooding ravine. You’ve taken her into your harem of women who have become her new family. And you’ve recently mated with her with the intent of having her bear your child.”
Calam scratched her head then glanced around at the girls who slowly relaxed their stances as they stared at her in wonder.
“Which was it again? Oh yes. The fairy who goes by the name Pip loves enveloping herself in Kroanette’s breasts. The harpy who goes by the name Doku has made meals for her far finer than anything she had growing up in Ruhelia. The elf who goes by the name Clover has often expressed jealousy over Kroanette’s exultant breast size. And the jinx who goes by the name Star has a fascination with clocks.”
“That’s… that’s right,” Specca breathed out. “That’s all correct.”
“You really have spoken with her?” Triska wondered. “She told you all that?”
“She thinks my cooking is that good?” Doku timidly asked. “Oh my, that’s so embarrassing. It’s really not that special, I assure you. If anything I fear it’s often bland and mediocre.”
“What the fuck?” Clover shouted with a deep blush. “I’m not jealous of her fucking boobs! Did she say that? That bitch, I’m going to kill her! What the hell does she mean ‘exultant breast size’? Dammit, her boobs aren’t that fucking huge! And mine aren’t that small and she knows it! Fuck!”
Calam giggled at the flustered elf before turning to Daniel with a curious smile, seeing him watching her with skepticism still but also with noticeable surprise.
“Do you still not believe me?” she innocently asked him. “I promise I do speak the truth.”
“One more question,” Daniel requested. “Before Kroanette wound up in Stonegate, she had a run-in with some rather unsavory monsters. They captured her and planned on taking her away to be killed. But one of them rebelled against her captors and freed her. She became Kroanette’s friend. I’d imagine if Kroanette was somehow making friends in Stonegate she would have mentioned her. Tell me, who and what was her friend she made then?”
“Ah, you must be speaking about Rolian the arachne,” Calam answered. “Yes, she made friends with an unusual arachne by the sound of it. Nice girl, possibly suffering from alcoholism, but still very nice from what I heard.”
“That’s right,” Luna gasped. “She knows about her too.”
“Only Kroanette could have told her that,” Falla reasoned. “Then… that means…”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Triska said in disbelief. “Kroanette… is really in Stonegate?”
“Yes, she is,” Calam again agreed with a nod. “Do you finally believe me?”
“But… how…” Daniel softly wondered. “Why is she… and why are you…”
“Please, just come with me,” Calam gently insisted. “I cannot answer your questions, only you can by seeing for yourself. I’m sorry, but that’s just how this works. I know you’re hesitant, that you’re understandably cautious, but you must trust me. It’s the only way.”
Daniel slowly ran a hand down his face with a quiet exhale, his inner conflict of choosing to believe her or listening to common sense and not trusting her being nearly evenly matched. Turning to his mates he saw them all teetering with the same dilemma as they exchanged troubled looks with one another.
“Daniel can’t go to Stonegate,” Specca urged. “It’s much too dangerous, especially for a human.”
“But what if Kroanette really is there?” Doku asked. “You heard Calam, she knows things only Kroanette would know. Doesn’t that prove she’s telling the truth?”
“It proves she’s at least spoken to Kroanette,” Clover reasoned. “It doesn’t necessarily mean Kroanette is okay or if she’s really in Stonegate. This could still be a trick.”
“But this could be our only chance of finding her though,” Luna pointed out. “We can’t just ignore that.”
“I don’t think she’s lying,” Falla carefully remarked. “But then again she’s not answering any other questions that may prove otherwise.”
“Daniel, what do you think we should do?” Triska asked, with the girls turning to him anxiously as he thought very carefully about their options. After a moment to think he turned to Calam who continued to watch him with a curious smile on her face.
“Girls, please take Calam to the dining hall and offer our guest some nice tea to drink. I’m going to consult a friend about this matter before I make any decisions. Triska, I want you to come with me. Calam, if you would be so kind as to give me a little time to consider your request I would appreciate it.”
“I can’t stay too long,” Calam replied shaking her head. “My escort is waiting for me to return to them.”
“Your escort?”
“Of course, it’s dangerous to travel alone at night,” Calam giggled. “My horse is waiting with my escort from Stonegate. Don’t worry, they’re situated further away in the forest to the south. We figured if you saw gremlins riding towards you the elves would have shot them on sight.”
“There are gremlins camped out there?” Clover demanded. “Are you fucking serious?”
“Only two,” Calam reasoned with a shrug. “Don’t worry, they’ll remain where they are until I return, however I don’t wish to keep them waiting for long.”
“That’s fine,” Daniel said, cutting Clover off as she was about to start yelling in protest. “If they leave us alone then we’ll leave them alone. Clover, have your rangers remain close to our campsite; don’t let any of them venture off and start an unnecessary fight. The rest of you may convene in the dining hall and maybe get to know our new friend here a little better. We’ll join you all shortly after I’ve reached my decision.”
“If you say so, Daniel,” Triska replied, sheathing her sword.
“Fine,” Clover muttered before waving to the elves at
the doorway. “Hey! Make sure we’re not disturbed this time unless it’s for a damn good reason. Just keep a sharp watch on the perimeter until we come out. And if any other monsters approach here, don’t shoot on sight unless they give you a reason.”
“As you wish,” an elf said, the women giving Calam one last sharp look before taking their leave.
“I’ll just… go wait outside then,” Sheal quietly spoke up. “I won’t get in your way.”
“Nonsense,” Specca argued. “You’re coming along and you’re going to share some tea with us as well. It’s been long enough having you being so anti-social around here.”
“I’m not worthy of that,” Sheal worried shaking her head. “I can’t accept such a thing, I don’t even belong here.”
“Squeak would say differently,” Falla said, with Sheal noticing the butterfly showing a saddened smile at her. “She risked her life for you, she thought you were worthy. Please. Join us.”
“But I’m a salamander woman, don’t I frighten you?”
“No,” Falla answered shaking her head. “You were Squeak’s friend. You were… the last one she made. Please, join us. Honestly, having you around reminds us of her even more. It’s… comforting for me.”
Sheal started to speak before seeing Pip fluttering near her face, the fairy nodding at her with a warm smile that took the words right out of the salamander’s mouth.
“You and your boobies are welcome here,” Pip promised. “That’s what Squeak would have wanted. You don’t have to be alone anymore if you don’t want to be. Please come with us. Please?”
Sheal hesitated at first before slowly nodding and lowering her head, appearing to have a small blush forming as she turned her eyes away from the girls, though it was hard to tell for sure with the natural warm glow she already had.
“Alright, get going,” Triska ordered with a wave to the dining hall. “Calam, if you wouldn’t mind telling them a bit more about yourself while waiting for Daniel that would be really nice of you.”
“I’m certainly not sworn to secrecy in that regard,” Calam giggled. “As long as it’s not about Stonegate, interrogate me to your heart’s content.”
“I suppose I’ll go prepare some tea for everyone then,” Doku reasoned with a shrug. “Would anyone care for some crumpets to snack on along with it? Or perhaps some cake?”
“Oh! Cake please!” Cindy cheered raising her hand. “Or crumpets! I don’t even know what those are but I wanna eat them too! Yes please! Please, Doku! I wanna eat them both!”
“Cindy!” Felucia scolded, and then turned to Daniel with a furious glare as he started making his way towards Twilight’s communal chamber with Triska. “Hey! Get back here, we’re not done talking about this! Daniel!”
She began running towards him before she was quickly lifted up into the air with a sparkly radiance surrounding her. The wraith screamed and thrashed about while Calam giggled at the woman with one hand held up and a golden casting ring shining around it.
“I’m sorry, but my business with Daniel Sorres has not ended yet,” the ant girl politely said shaking her head. “Please refrain from harming him until our time together is over. Thank you.”
“Fuck you!” Felucia yelled while circling around. “Put me down, you stupid bug! Daniel! Daniel, get back here! I’m talking to you! Goddammit, put me down right now!”
“Mother, stop it,” Cindy whined. “Don’t be mean to Daniel. I love him. Please try to calm down. We’re supposed to be good girls. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Oh my,” Calam giggled with one hand held lightly over her mouth. “Your mother is rather energetic, isn’t she?”
“I’m going to kill you!” Felucia yelled at her. “I’m going to fucking kill you! Put me down! Fucking hell! Put me down right now! Daniel, get back over here and face me!”
Calam shook her head at the sight while all the girls except for Cindy giggled from seeing Felucia throwing her fit, with the younger sand wraith lowering her head with a low whine and small blush as she coddled Snapper closer. As Felucia screamed and shouted at pretty much everyone, Calam glanced over to see Daniel and Triska walking into the communal chamber and closing the door behind them, her eyes narrowing slightly as a sly smirk faintly formed for a brief moment before she then turned to the girls with a cheery smile.
“Now then, shall we go have a nice, friendly chat? I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea to be honest, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all, my dear,” Doku replied as they started heading towards the dining hall, with Felucia being carried after them while still thrashing in her fruitless struggle. “It would be my pleasure to prepare it right away.”
“I don’t want any fucking tea!” Felucia screamed. “You’re all crazy! You’re all out of your goddamned minds! Daniel! You’ll pay for this, you’ll pay for this insanity!”
*****
“Daniel Sorres,” Twilight greeted, the reaper’s magical manifestation giving a polite curtsey to Daniel and Triska within their communal chamber. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“Hello, Twilight,” Daniel said, walking forward and gently taking hold of the reaper’s hand to give it a small kiss. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. I’m sorry for my cold behavior lately, I didn’t mean-”
“Hush, not a word more,” Twilight interrupted shaking her head. “You don’t need to apologize for anything. We may have only met like this sparingly these past few days but I’ve been watching you very closely from my prison. I know what’s been pushing you so hard and why you’ve been so distant lately. I understand, Daniel Sorres.”
“That doesn’t excuse my behavior with you or the girls,” Daniel regretted. “I was acting cowardly with you all. I kept pretending that Squeak wasn’t dead and focused only on finding Kroanette so as to avoid facing the harsh reality of her passing. I pushed away everyone I held dear only to try sparing myself the pain for as long as I could. I’m sorry.”
“You weren’t a coward, Daniel Sorres,” Twilight gently empathized. “Losing Squeak… was a painful blow to all of us. Such a loss cannot so easily be mended in our hearts, especially for you, her mate. I understand what you’ve been going through and I never once blamed you for such either. You just needed time to accept what had happened, that’s all.”
Daniel lowered his head in shame as he didn’t yet feel absolved from his actions. With a gentle lift of his chin Twilight brought his gaze back onto her, showing him a kind smile as she tenderly rubbed his cheek.
“I’m glad to see you again, and to see that you are healing from your loss,” she calmly praised. “And if I may say so, your new shield and sword look very dashing on you, Daniel Sorres.”
“They have given me a little more confidence with my search for Kroanette,” he admitted, admiring his new armaments. “Apoch and Astreal did a wonderful job creating them. I must properly thank them the next time they visit.”
“I’m happy you approve of their handiwork,” Twilight giggled. “They created that sword and shield especially for you. Though I do suspect the shield and sword you forge from the love of your mates would be considerably stronger in comparison.”
“I’d imagine so,” Triska chimed in with a smirk. “If anything our love for our brave knight has only increased lately, not decreased as he seems to fear.”
“We’ll have to test that theory sometime soon,” Daniel chuckled, with Triska nodding slowly while holding in her excited purr. Giving his shield one last look he then turned to Twilight as she had a curious expression on her face now.
“Yes,” she carefully mused. “Although, I have heard from the girls about you supposedly having another sword hidden up your sleeve. I have been rather curious to learn from you exactly what they were talking about.”
“It’s a long story,” Daniel admitted with a shrug. He glanced to his right hand as he felt an ominous chill resting on it briefly before he shook it off. “I would be happy to tell you what happened and
maybe get your insight as to what it all means, but first we need to discuss something rather pressing.”
“Oh? And what might that be?”
“An ant girl named Calam has come to visit us, claiming she knows where Kroanette is.”
“Really? And where is our beloved centaur?”
“Stonegate,” Daniel gravely replied.
“Stonegate?” Twilight gasped, showing a startled look before lowering her head in distress. “Oh my, that’s not good at all. I’ve heard from my dear little helpers about that particular monster city. Truly a dreadful and treacherous place for anyone, especially a centaur. How did she end up there of all places?”
“We don’t know,” Daniel lamented. “Calam isn’t allowed to say, she took an oath of secrecy regarding Stonegate and Kroanette’s incident. She appears to be quite friendly and courteous, though that doesn’t excuse our concerns about the situation.”
“Yes, about her,” Twilight cautiously remarked. “Daniel Sorres, that ant girl who arrived here, something about her is… rather different.”
“She can use magic,” Triska agreed with a nod. “And she can even talk. We were really surprised to meet her too. We didn’t think ant girls like her existed.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Twilight worried shaking her head. “There are some nests of ant girls out there who are supposedly capable of using magic. I’ve learned about such unique monsters before, but that isn’t what concerns me about that girl.”
“Then what is it?” Daniel asked. “What’s different about her?”
“It’s just… something about her isn’t normal,” Twilight warned him. “When I look at her from where I am, I don’t see her as I do with you. Maybe it’s just that my sight is hindered from behind my cage, perhaps that as well as the fact she’s a magical monster is why she appears as such, but still…”
“What do you mean you don’t see her like you do with us?” Triska asked. “What does she look like to you?”
“She appears like a normal ant girl, but her aura is… not,” Twilight answered. “There’s something strange about the monster energy within her. It’s almost masked by something. I can see the ether rippling away from those of magical ability such as Alyssa and Star, and even you, Triska Raylight. But Calam… it’s as if the ether is merely passing right through her, as if she’s not even there. Right now she’s levitating her cup of tea to drink from it, I can see that clear as day, but she’s not channeling anything through the ether in doing so. She’s capable of using magic, but she doesn’t seem to be drawing power from the ether in order to do it.”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act I Page 11
