Captain of the Guard, Lindell

Having finished everything I possibly could. I understood how it was better to keep this identity a secret. Though this was supposed to be the day I was off. I only got maybe four a month, with half of them being used for stuff like this. Letting out a soft sigh, I walked to a local vendor to buy some bread that would last. As well as some freshly made sandwiches. I was close enough to the innermost walls that no one might look sideways towards a human with a large amount of bread. Things were cheaper in the inner markets, though they carried their own risks when going towards the slums.

That was hardly a problem for me however. I had some guards carry food for the orphanage now and then. If it ended up stolen, well I made certain the perp never did it again. Carrying my haul of breads and sandwiches, I made my way through the streets towards the orphanage. On the way, I noticed a few thugs starting to follow. They stopped after they realized where I was heading, which made me grin. Opening the door to the large wooden building, with stone foundation. I saw all the kids doing their own little things. It was so much different from back then, it was welcomed to see less children without homes. Though a part of me missed them. Even if I couldn't recognize half their faces every time I came.

A short wood elf came from the back, to see me. After using her oracle sight, she seemed to smile warmly. "Right this way sir, I'll show you where to place the donations."

Nodding, I followed after her. "I was told by the captain to drop this off. There are some questions I need to ask, since he wants to know." It was strange seeing the children so subdued. Usually when I arrived, they would be all over me. Happily taking the bags from my arms, and demanding that I spend my time playing with them. I decided to make it up to them next month when I get another day off. The last thing anyone needed was for my cover to be blown.

"Of course sir, any friend of the captain's is welcomed in this home." I nodded in response and helped her put up all the food. Some of the children came to take some sandwiches from me. Before they went back to doing what they were doing. Most of them were drawing, while a few were trying to practice magic. I couldn't be bothered to remember the names of the humans that grew too fast. Even the dwarfs never stayed for longer than couple decades. I did see a few elves that I recalled the names of. Much like this wood elf.

After we were done, I followed her into her office. She closed the door behind me, as I took a seat in the chair in front of her desk. Making sure not to even think about her name in case one of the children were able to read minds. They were honest kids, but they liked to talk as children tend to do. The dark skinned wood elf sat in front of me after closing the door. "Are you ready for me to ask questions?"

She smiled a little, her orange hair falling in a frizz to her mid back. Her skin the color of a deep dark wood. I never caught the name of the tree she came from. "Well Wyatt, you do not have to worry about the children. I understand that you are busy, but there have been a few adoptions recently. Though with how time goes by, I do not feel you could recall them. Sadly there are not many looking to adopt the elves. Given that they will likely outlast most families. One of them was adopted to a rich noble family that wanted to raise him as a personal guard for generations."

I nodded, "I see, and none of them have talents to listen in on us?"

"Yep, all good kids. Do you know how many you inspire to join the guards?" She tilted her head back, resting her eyes. I could see the grain on her cheeks had grown darker.

"Quite a few, if what you told me last time is still true. It's better than them working underground or on the streets." Crossing my arms I looked her over. Wondering how many years had passed since I last actually looked at her.

She laughed a bit in response, "You are correct. I remember almost a century ago, when you first came here. The church burned down, there were so few guards back then."

I raised my hand to stop her from continuing, "I believe I found out what happened to my sister..." Even though she couldn't see my hand.

She opened her eyes, to look into my own. Her eyes changed with the season, like her hair. Orange for fall, white for winter, green for spring, and black for summer. "Will you be able to move on now? I understand how time seems to rush by, with periods of action you forget after a year or two. Everything blurring together, save for the worst that sticks into your mind like a thorn."

Looking down at the desk, I nodded. "We need constants in our life. The other races are so short lived, they pass us by like a breeze. Even Vivian is forty, and I feel like I only blinked for a second. I will always see you as a mother, even though you are growing older now. I can at least remember watching the grains developing."

"You are changing the subject, but I will let you continue. I cannot let you stay here too long. You might need to hire an elf escort to talk to for days on end. To sort through all of this." She put her hands on the desk, in a motherly way.

Putting my hands on top of her own, I could feel how cold they felt now. The hands that were so full of life when I was a child, now growing stiffer. "If you think that is for the best mother Oak. I can put it off for a few years and do just that."

She gently rubbed my wrists, "Only you will know what's best for yourself. I can go by stories, and rumors that I have heard. I can tell what you might need since you will always be my child. From what I understand, you haven't had a right of passage. Something to allow you to feel you are truly an adult. You are like a bud about to flower, do not let your anger control me. Please tell me what happened to your sister."

It struck me, that this woman had been with me longer than my own mother. My eyes watered a little as I took a second to wipe away the rogue tear. "My sister... Alice. She has become a monster."

"A monster you say?" Mother Oak gently ran her fingers over my knuckles, tracing the scars I held from training until they bled. "Does that mean she is unfit to be your sister? Has she hurt anyone?"

Shaking my head, "No... but I was there as she said goodbye. She did not recognize me, she did not hear my voice. It unsettles me, that the monster has her face. I feel she is truly gone now, but not quite dead. Changed as it were."

Mother Oak softly whistled a calming note, until I looked at her face again. "Do you feel you are the last of your blood?"

Wincing, I saw her eyes glow. Reflecting the doubts, and moving them aside with her magic. To let me truly peer inside myself. I shuddered at the answer I found, "Yes..."

Mother Oak pulled me into her chest, as a numb feeling washed over me. Every time she asked before, I could respond with no. Even a year ago, I always felt someone else out there. Someone related to me by blood and soul. I was finally, truly alone. My poor sister fought so hard, so damn hard against that monster to tell me goodbye. She couldn't recognize my voice. She couldn't see me, she couldn't feel me. I sniffled, as my tears started to stain mother Oak's dress. I couldn't sob, not here. I might grieve for years, or even decades. This kingdom wasn't the world I should have been born into. So many things changing, and shifting so often. Faces growing old and withered. Vivian would die, Brian would die. Every human I knew by name would die.

Mother Oak stroked my hair, as she did when I was under her care. The same way she did, when I asked when Alice was coming back. The same tears falling on the top of my head from her. So few constants in my life, all set to fade away with the flow of time. I wanted... no I needed someone. Anyone to spend my time with. To talk for days or months at a time. To spend years with, even decades getting to know. Maybe even a century to court them, but there was no one in the kingdom that I knew. "Why do I struggle mother?"

Mother Oak stopped stroking my hair, to hold me tighter. "You struggle, because you are a good son. You fight to make the world better, even if you are impulsive. I so much want to offer you a child to care for. Though you yourself are still a child in your heart. It would be irresponsible, and it could hurt you both. Perhaps you might consider buying an elf from the slave auction? To save them?"

"I cannot.. it goes against everything I stand for. I can hardly tolerate the prisons outside. I hate seeing others bound to each other through force. I hate that we don't put those that cannot be reformed to death. To deprive them of their choice, and force their labor. To force their obedience. I hate it, but I understand why it must be done. So few wish to do back breaking work."

She started stroking my hair once more, "I understand, though I do not feel the same. I also feel that life is precious. To force others to work is simply a matter of course. Work must be done, regardless of whom it is done by. We wood elves are made by our mother tree. Made with a purpose, that is given to us as we take our first breath. We fight, we explore, we plant, we harvest. I was made to care for others, but I was not blessed with the power to heal. Your purpose was to make this kingdom wonderful, for when your sister returned. It was the choice you made as a child. Yet, here we are now. That purpose fulfilled, but not enough to satisfy you. If you cannot care for a child, if you cannot purchase a slave. Then you are left with very few options. As your mother, I wish to help you as best I can, my poor child."

My eyes dried as time passed us in this embrace. Every word she said, settling like sand upon the ocean's floor. Disturbed by the tide of my own mind. I took a deep breath, "Mother... what choices do you feel there are for me?" This was a gross misuse of her powers as an oracle, but it was something I desperately needed. Something I could overlook for others, and myself.

"Your path is one of suffering and compromise my child. You cannot feel better, unless you accept what has come. You cannot grow unless you do so with someone you can trust. Your sister's soul has passed on, but part of her lives on inside the monster. She was so strong, because she wanted to see you as well. To tell you her final words. Now a new soul resides in the monster. A mix of the two, guiding each other forward. The best choice for you, is to accept your sister's passing. To understand fully what has become of her."

I pulled back, to see one of her eyes starting to bleed from using her powers. She closed them, to stop her magic. "I am sorry for asking this of you mother."

"Don't apologize my dear child. It is my purpose in life to care for others. Even if it hurts me, I am merely happy to have helped another." She gave me a warm smile. "Your sister still exists within that monster in a different way. In a sense she is like your sister's daughter. Deep down, we both know your anger towards them comes from fiends. What they did to your home, and how you blame them for everything that happened. Though even those cultists are to blame, since they chased her after capturing you." Mother Oak sat back in her chair. "You do not hate humans, because of that. So please, give it a try for your mother."

I started to say something, as a knock came at the door. A sweet innocent voice called out, "Mother Oak, it's time for dinner. Margy made some bread pudding and Bew broth stew."

Mother Oak reached into the drawer on her side. Pulling out a small, but potent healing potion. I promised to replace it before moving aside as she moved past me. "I am coming deary. I hope you made enough pudding for everyone Margy!" There were some giggles, and laughter, as mother Oak walked to the small swarm of children.

I closed the door for a moment collecting myself. Hours seeming to blur by, as mother Oak opened the door. "The children are asleep now dear. Go home, and rest. You have time to consider what I said. Your sister's daughter will be here until you are ready to meet her."

Nodding, I walked out onto the streets. It must have been midnight, as my pulse quickened. A bittersweet feeling washing over me. I needed sleep, so I could wake up and get back to work tomorrow. This could all wait until my next day off. Though I had to admit that the silver moon was exceptionally beautiful tonight.

Richard

It was extremely lucky that I was able to buy the Bew leg cheaply. Considering that I left my savings with the old man, I was only walking around with a single silver coin. Which was all I ended up needing in the end thankfully. I remembered that a certain captain had a hand in this, but there was no point complaining about the past. Deciding not to question the logistics of keeping beasts close to monsters; I set about cooking. Using a fire starter to get the magic oven going. I was able to work the fire and everything into a large pot of stew. I still had no idea how much Mimi might eat in a given day. Plus with the old man having trouble chewing, it was best to just make something soft and delicious.

Letting the juices soak, while I ground fresh spices into it. I was able to enjoy using my alchemy to mix everything around perfectly. Controlling the heat to an unparalleled degree, I simply lost myself to cooking. It was wonderful to spend a few hours training, and making something that I could enjoy with others. The quality of the meat went up because I could break it down, and build it up in just the right way. The entire kitchen filled with the warmth and aroma of seasoned meat and broth. The few vegetables Oswald had lying around were just what we needed.

I finished right on time for a proper dinner. Heading upstairs I found Mimi starting to poke her head around the corner. I had asked her not to disturb me while cooking. She seemed to smile warmly, as I gave her the thumbs up. "If you bring mister Oswald down here to the kitchen, I'll make your bowl first okay? Make sure you do it gently, since he doesn't like being rushed."

Mimi nodded at this, and quickly disappeared from the corner. It impressed me, with how fast she could actually move when she felt like it. Not to mention, it seemed that she was learning where to step to not make sounds. Overall, I was most proud at how well she was adapting to everything.

Heading back down, I set the table. It was much too large for all three of us, but it was a dinning room lobby the original place used to have. I recalled the days I spent here, cleaning up everything. My earliest days under the old man, who took a liking to my cooking. Grabbing the pot, I carried it to the center of the edge where we were to sit. Bowl in hand, while Mimi bridal carried Oswald. I pointed with my ladle, "Set him there Mimi. I want to show him what I learned while we camped." An evil grin on my lips.

Oswald's eyes went wide as he licked his chapped lips, "Is that fresh meat lad?"

"Sure is, I was going about shopping and just happened to stumble where it ended up. Guess the farmer that owned the Bew only took the choicest cuts. Which left us with a whole lot of meat. I was surprised with how quickly they processed it honestly."

Mimi carefully sat him down in his chair, while I made her bowl. Pointing the dripping ladle to her spot, I smiled as she sat on her knees. Oswald reached for the bowl, as I handed it over to Mimi first. "Thank you~"

Oswald grunted, "Lad, you know that it's offensive to serve a monster before your master, right?"

Letting out a small laugh, I made his bowl. "Yep, but I'm half dwarf. I gave my word that she would get the first bowl if she brought you here." I could see Mimi happily holding the bowl in her hands, while softly and quietly blowing on it.

Oswald took his bowl from me, his hands shaking as I put my attention to helping him set it down in front of him. "It better be damn good to make up for these transgressions lad. A dwarf never forgets a grudge."

Grinning back, I started making my own bowl. "We also never forget a favor, a curse, and all that good stuff. We are brothers when we drink from the same keg. Isn't that right?"

Oswald blew on a spoon full of broth and meat, "Aye, right you are lad. I haven't had a good ale in years. Most nobles want that prissy grape water, squished by the feet of virgins. They probably adore the taste of piss, I tell ya."

"Hey, it's easy to make, and cheap. That one bottle you were throwing away didn't seem to upset you too much." Setting down my own bowl I took a seat to see Mimi happily sipping at her broth.

Oswald stared at me, "What do you mean lad?"

"Remember the gift from the count? That fancy wine you threw in the trash?" I took my first bite, and it was amazing.

"Aye, I do lad." Oswald took his own bite, smiling at the flavor.

"Well, I figured if there was a noble that would refuse to poison you. It had to be the count. Too upstanding and all that." It was nice to have us all together.

"Get on with it lad." Oswald kept himself calm by blowing on his next bite.

"Well, I took it from the trash. Tried a few sips, and used it in the mushroom sauce." Smiling back at him.

"The mushroom sauce lad? The one with the wyvern steak that the same count provided for you to practice cooking?" He seemed betrayed.

Nodding my head, "The same, old man. You didn't seem to think it tasted like piss at the time."

Oswald held his heart, "Blast and damn lad! That was by far my favorite meal! How could you do this to me!? I am betrayed!" It was clear he was joking, though his pride could never live this down if word got out.

Almost laughing, I quickly took another bite. "You didn't seem to mind at the time. If that was your favorite until now. What tops everything else old man?"

He pretended to sound hurt, "Tell me lad, does this have grape flavored piss water in it?"

"Nope." I pursed my lips before giving him a full toothed grin.

"That's well and good lad! Because this is now my favorite! You truly outdid yourself." Oswald was back in good spirits.

"That's great news, old man. One day, we might get ale and I can try cooking with that instead." I took another bite with a smile.

"Oi! Don't ever mix or cook food with ale unless it's in yer gullet lad! By my honor as a dwarf, I'd have to report you to the ale makers." He laughed, before turning serious, "Though, you do need to never tell a proper dwarf about using ale to cook. They get right upset when food and drink is mixed anywhere outside the mouth."

Nodding, I saw Mimi slide an empty bowl towards me. "More please~"

Giving her a smile, I happily refilled her bowl, before giving it back. "Then I promise on my honor as a half dwarf, to never mix the two even for cooking."

Oswald laughed a bit, before going back to eating. He seemed to pause, as if wanting to say something else, but stopped himself. It was probably something about Mimi, judging by how quiet he went.

After finishing my second helping, and Mimi finished her fifth. I saw Oswald finally got through his own bowl. "Would you like anymore old man?"

Oswald yawned a bit, "No, I'm good. I do need to talk to you in the morning lad. Got something important to tell ya, and after a good meal just isn't the time."

I blinked, while taking his empty bowl. "I-I see. Can you give me an idea?"

"It's nothing bad lad, if anything you might like what you hear. I will say that I will kick you out if you sleep with Mimi. I know you're young and all, but now's not the time for that." He smiled at me.

My face turned beet red, "I-I wasn't going to do that." Swallowing hard, "I-I mean look at her, she's too tall for me, and... come on." Turning to Mimi, I saw her happily licking her bowl. Face half covered by it. "Mimi?"

She looked at me tilting her head, "Yes?"

"I need you to carry mister Oswald back where you found him. If you do that, I'll carry the pot to your hive to share with them. Though you have to make sure you clean the pot. Promise?"

Mimi sat up a little more to see the pot was half full still. She smiled, before looking at Oswald who simply sighed in defeat. "Promise~"

Carrying the pot to the hive was done easily enough. They seemed more than happy to move around it. I thankfully brought the extra bowls with me. Taking the ladle, I filled the bowls for the hive to have an easier time getting to the still warm stew. It was nice to see all the dread wasps working eagerly on it. Better yet, was seeing how what started out as a small crate, now was a broken husk spread all around the closet. I didn't know Mimi's hive could work on wood, but what else could they have used?

Walking back towards my room, I stepped on a spot and felt something was off. The floor wasn't creaking anymore. Shrugging it off, I went to bed for the night.

Alice

After carrying Oswald upstairs, I placed him carefully back at the desk where I found him. The memories I received from Robert were very useful, with a good deal of them helping me understand what names actually were. My name was Alice, but is currently Mimi. There was no reason to change it for now, since it made Richard happy.

Oswald looked at me for a moment, "Thank you Mimi. You should go rest." He looked back to the hand sized object he had been changing when I first found him.

I made to turn away, quietly covering myself with my armor. The fluff at the bottom of my wings a dead give away, but I learned quickly that Oswald had trouble seeing well. I pretended to move out of the room, only to quietly double back where he seemed to touch the hand sized object to something else. There was a loud beep, as Oswald slouched in his chair.

"Mimi, I told you to go to bed." He turned his chair, to face me as I tilted my head. This shouldn't be happening, he shouldn't be able to see me. I needed to guide my stingers into his hands while he was on my shoulders. I tested him while shifting my position and pretending to look at buildings Richard pointed out, before he corrected where he was pointing.

Narrowing my eyes, I realized that he was more clever than I thought. A tricky Oswald, a tricky father. No, this old man was crafty. The magic between the two objects only lasted for a few seconds, before a beam was shot out in different directions. "What did you do?"

Oswald grinned, "I took precautions. The king knows about you, as well as anyone that bothers to look. I recommend you get out of your battle form."

Doing as asked, I tilted my head, "The king did not know about me before?"

"I can see that your innocence was just an act. Only making small sentences, but yes. He didn't know about you before. Why did you think he would?" He sounded sincerely curious.

"I thought they were like me, able to connect with all the voices. This is a hive, correct? You all work so well together, with soldiers, workers, and other professions I learned from Robert." I moved towards Oswald, no intention of fighting him. He had more information than I was given by Robert, but I could at least understand what he said.

"You came here, believing we were all connected like you, and your hive?" I nodded in response, as he stroked his beard. "Why?"

"Richard was clearly not able to survive on his own. He is still weak, and would die to many of the things I hunt. I wondered if he was the child of something stronger, or part of a hive. I wanted to assess the threat, and protect my hive. To find if I needed to run or stay in my territory. I did not expect the sheer scale of this kingdom or city as it is called." I sat on my knees, to make myself smaller.

Oswald seemed to relax a bit, while putting a hand on my face. "I see..." He started to stroke my stingers, being careful not to rub the antenna. "You thought we were a hive bigger than your own. You wanted to protect your hive, and not be eaten by us?"

I nodded, not breaking contact with his green glasses. I still had no frame of reference for some of these words. Robert left out a lot of information. "Yes, I am confident that I can run. The food is plentiful, and it is warmer here. I still wish to grow my own hive."

"You won't fight? Why is that?" He started to pull his gloved hand back.

I grabbed it, causing him to jump a little. "If I kill one of you, others will know. They will attack me, then I have to run. Are there other kingdoms out there?"

Oswald nodded, "Yes, there are. There are also cities smaller than this kingdom, towns that are smaller, and so on."

I could imagine that any sustainable place needed at least fifty Richards to keep itself working. "Are they warm?"

Oswald paused at this, "No, only cities and kingdoms have barriers to keep the temperature in check. The cold bothers your hive, so you want to stay here?"

Letting go of Oswald's hand, I nodded. "They will die if I take them out during the cold season. There is little food, and I do not like being alone."

"I see, and that makes the risk of being here better than your hive dying out in the cold." He put his hands in his lap.

"Yes, I will die to protect my hive. To save more voices than my own." The king knew about me now, I was unsure what this meant. "What does it mean that the king knows about me now?"

"It doesn't mean much if you continue to be helpful. If anything, it might make him send some people to take you to him. To inspect you in person." He jumped a bit, as I stabbed him with my stinger.

Oswald felt life returning to his body as new cells were created faster than the healing tonics he brewed could do. He coughed, and gasped as muscle returned to bones. He felt fifty years younger, as he managed to take the panacea. He moved it around his body with his alchemy as Mimi observed.

"What did you do that for?" He coughed some more, hunger welling inside him.

"A gift and a warning. If you harm my hive, or my Richard, I can kill you easily." Looking straight into his glass eyes, I watched as his mouth opened and closed.

"Y-your Richard?" He sounded confused.

"Yes, you marked him as yours. He is mine, he promised to protect and help my hive." He couldn't seem to close his mouth anymore.

"You consider the lad a part of your hive? Even though you don't have a connection with him?" Oswald almost stuttered, but moved his arm for the first time without it hurting his joints in so many years.

"Yes, I could have killed him many times. No one would have known, but he promised to help me. To help my hive." I did not understand why Oswald struggled with this.

"If I made the same promise lass?" He tilted his head towards me again, seeming to look me over once more.

"Then I will protect you as if you were my hive as well. I understand, that I cannot keep them safe by myself. I need friends, associates even." What was the word? Had the old man gone senile? This wasn't hard to understand.

"I see, and if you were to become strong enough, that you didn't need friends?" He put his hands together, while his stomach grumbled.

"I would still accept them, and protect them. There are other kingdoms, as you said. I do not feel I can take on the world. Even if I killed everyone, but my hive. There would be nothing left. We would have to resort to eating our dead again." I did not break away from looking into his green glasses.

Oswald smiled, "You remind me of someone, from so long ago. One last question, and I promise to protect your hive." He waited for me to nod, before speaking again, "Robert taught you these words? Not Richard? How did this happen?"

"That is three questions, but yes to Robert teaching me. This happened because he entered my mind to find my talents. I asked him to share knowledge with me, since I did not know others could enter like he did." It was nice that Oswald was willing to help me now.

"I see, did you hurt him? Yes, that was three questions earlier, I will protect your hive. Just keep answering me honestly. What were your talents by the way?" He went back to stroking his beard.

"I did not, I watched him discover my talents. Richard was sad at the time, so I told a lie. My actual talents are Devourer, and Symbiosis. Robert said they were strong, and somewhat weak. He also seemed a bit afraid, but he was able to copy his memories about your language. I managed to break it down with my hive just after dinner."

"Very good lass. I would like it, if you could carry me downstairs to get some more food. Seems the side effects are a killer. You won't let me starve to death will you?"

I picked the old man up, and helped him to a bowl of stew beside the hive. They will remember his scent from now on. Since it was late, Oswald promised to explain some of the 'gaps' in my knowledge about how things work in a kingdom tomorrow. I carried him back to his room before resting beside my hive for a quiet slumber on the sheets. The hive was steadily repairing all the damage to the wood done by the termites. It will take some time, but with the most pressing threat dealt with via befriending. I was able to finally sleep easy.