A few seconds after this exchange, the stone and dust fell in a cascade of smoke and debris to reveal a man. A man the size of the golem. This guy was on par with the King in sheer size but broader and less regal in bearing.

If his features had been sharp for a golem, they were still blunt for a human. His skin tone under the grey stone was a sun-darkened bronze, and he seemed very self-assured in his size; he gave the impression that he knew how to use his bulk to best advantage. Not that Aarav wanted to test this because he was well out of his league. Just the waves of power that Aarav suspected were his aura told him that he didn’t stand a chance. Running and hiding was out of the question since it was clear he could see through Aarav’s Strong Camouflage, which the Slime was still leery about.

“So…what happens now?” Boren asked. They had been in this guy’s grip for the last thirty seconds, and he seemed uninterested in releasing them. He hadn’t even bothered lowering his arms, their combined weight likely no more hindrance to him than a feather. “Are you going to put us down or…?” The question continued to hang in the air while the man contemplated.

“We wait for the leader.” That admission was enough to put Aarav on edge. If a monster like this was not the leader, how strong was the person in charge? Or did he mean the Queen? Aarav thought in shock, was the Queen coming here?

“The Queen is coming?” Aarav screwed up his eyes as he tried to think of a way out of this. “Boren, what did I tell you about leaving the palace?” Aarav tried to calm his fraying nerves. The women would slice him to pieces. Then burn what was left. “Boren?” Aarav couldn’t hide the sliver of panic that edged his voice.

“Aarav, don’t worry, I will talk to my mother! I promise! Or my name is not Boren Frelaine!” With the authority of a royal, Boren then turned his head to the man holding them. “You will set us down. In turn, we will promise not to run and stay with you. Agreed?” Boren waited for the replying grunt, and then the giant set them both down on the road again. Boren rubbed his neck a little and then stared up at the man. Boren had clearly never seen this person before.

“I require your identity, sir!” Boren said, again with the authority of a born royal. “Who are you?” He was firm but still polite; it was quite the art. Aarav wasn’t sure he could have achieved as much, despite negotiating himself out of tense situations in his past life.

The man knelt in front of Boren to get to his eye level. “I am afraid I cannot approve your request, Prince Boren. I can, however, tell you that I am under orders from the Queen to return you safely to the palace. Along with any co-conspirators I happen to find.” He eyed Aarav briefly as he spoke and then returned his gaze to Boren. Aarav felt a lump form in the space where his throat would be if he had one. It was suddenly tough to swallow. Was he sweating? He didn’t know he could. Or maybe he was melting as he had in front of the forge? This situation was getting worse for him by the second.

“Do you think the King will be there too?” Aarav asked. “And Haemish?” It was so hard to keep the desperation from his voice. The Oath, the Soul Oath, would keep him safe. They swore to do him no harm, right? It was his only chance with the Queen. Boren would attest to his effort in keeping him safe, and then the King was a reasonable person. Aarav could help but feel like he was justifying this to himself. Only God knew what would happen in the next few hours.

After that discussion, nothing more was said. Aarav continued to spiral while Boren periodically looked at the nervous wreck. Aarav was ready to bolt if he thought he even had the slightest chance to escape. Their silent guard remained impassive and, unfortunately, vigilant. Nothing would make that guy talk.

“Report!” said a sharp voice that was distinctly feminine. “Who are these-?“ The woman cut off abruptly once she realised who one of the people with her soldier was. “Well, very nice work, soldier!” Aarav noted that she was cautious in not mentioning the guy's name or military speak, but Aarav suspected the former.

“Prince Boren, hope you are well. You have your mother in quite the state. She would have taken our heads if she thought it would return you to her side sooner. Luckily for us, she thought we would be more help out in the city looking for you!”

The oddball woman started laughing as if she had said some great joke. Yes, of course, getting beheaded by the queen was hilarious, wasn’t it? Aarav could only shake his head at both of these crazy people, and Boren agreed with Aarav's sentiments as he paled at the sight as well. Aarav couldn’t understand what was funny in that statement. “Umm, I don’t get the joke….” Aarav decided to interject on the woman’s frivolity.

Big mistake.

The woman’s laughter cut off as quickly as it had started, and she stared hard at Aarav. The Slime could do nothing but shy back from that inscrutable gaze. The woman was the very definition of intense. He could understand why she was the leader now. Only this amount of insanity would be able to keep Muscles in check. “What are you? The ugliest fairy in the village?” She said with a voice sharp enough to cut to the bone.

“Hey! Umm, I have been protecting the Prince since he left the palace. Boren, back me up here!” Aarav said; the woman kept stepping closer to Aarav with each word he spoke. Soon, Aarav was backing away and trying to hide behind Boren to get away from her.

“Y-yes, that’s right. Aarav had been protecting me while in the city. I am the reason why we are out here!” Boren said, gaining confidence as he made it to the end of the sentence. After all, they were her to protect him. They should listen to him.

“Uh-huh? Is that right? Big man, what do you say? Are they telling the truth? I don’t know why the Prince would want to protect a grotesque creature like you, but what do I know? I just serve on the Queen’s whim; you will have to convince her.” The woman looked back at the big one, and he just grunted. No idea what that means; he doesn’t talk much, does he? Aarav thought. “Yes, I think your right. Okay, here’s what we are going to do. The big man here will take you both to the palace, and we will have a chat with the Queen. Then we can take it from there. You good with that, ugly?” Aarav’s will dropped to an all-time low as he simply shuffled his feet and resigned to his fate. What happened, happened, but the Soul Oath, Haemish and Boren should hopefully make things a little less dire.

Aarav hated being at the mercy of more powerful people, but that was the nature of society. Whether in this universe or the last, those rules held no matter the circumstance. It was hard to stop influential people from abusing said power. Unless more powerful people forced them, the cycle was simply repeating itself. Aarav just needed to get strong enough that people would push him around anymore. And for that, he would use this kingdom’s resources in any way he could.

For now, he needed to survive until tomorrow. Then he needed to stop trying to break free and enjoy some superficial freedom. He needed to get down and dirty, which would get him the power he craved and the liberty he desired so desperately with it.

“Lead on then.” Aarav found it a little easier to keep the hopelessness from his voice this time. Boren also had resolve painted on his. It seemed the kid had some serious backbone, even when confronting him tyrant of a mother. “Let’s get this over with.”

The Slime couldn’t suppress the sigh that escaped his lips, though, no matter how hard he tried.