As the day passed into late afternoon, Miss Tribi concluded the lessons and the children had some free time. Grace and Kalindra started playing puppets while Night was taking a nap.

“So, where do we stay tonight? Anything interesting to see?” Kallid asked Aunt Tribi.

“Afraid not tonight. I’ve tried to optimize our travel to get as far as possible each day but stopping around dusk. We have a good idea of distances near the city, but there simply aren’t any towns where we’ll end up tonight. Oh, there is a river we’ll be fording later. That should be interesting!”

“Oh! How deep is the river?”

Miss Tribi shrugged. “No idea. It’s traditional to get out of the carriage though during river crossings. If things go wrong, you don’t want to be trapped inside. Say, can the children swim?”

Kallid’s eyes shot to Grace and Kalindra.

“I don’t think so! Other than splashing around the pond at our picnic site we never really…”

“Oh, don’t worry too much. We can ride on top. It’ll probably be fine. Can you swim?”

“It’s not pretty, but I can swim,” he admitted.

“Good. Then we can hold onto Grace and Kalindra should the worst happen. Night could probably just fly over.”

“If it’s not too far.”

Miss Tribi drew in her breath deeply. Kallid found himself paying far too much attention.

“Well, we’re going to have to figure out some way. Life on the road isn’t going to be easy. There is a bridge across the river, but it’s miles out of the way and the ford is supposed to be shallow anyway. It’s just… you can never tell about rivers.”

“If it’s too deep or too wide, we’ll go back to the bridge,” Kallid decided.

Miss Tribi nodded. “You’re the boss!”

“Am I?”

“Yes, Kallid. You are. I’ll do my best to help of course, but in the end you are the boss here. You might as well get used to it.”

Kallid thought about that. It wasn’t something he’d gotten comfortable with yet, and he had little to no experience as a leader, but he really was the boss here. Their human guards were just along for protection really. They knew where they were going in general, but he could change that course with a word. Ultimately he was responsible. He had to stop just going with the flow here, for his children’s sake. While Miss Tribi meant well, the farther they got from the Royal City, the less she would know of their real situation. To just agree with her every suggestion would be nothing more than relinquishing the responsibility to her, and that wasn’t fair to her.

But Miss Tribi was continuing.

“...so I think it best if we stay in the carriage to sleep while we have it. Once we reach the borders of the King’s country, we have to return it with the two guards riding on top. It’ll be weeks before then - the King’s domain is quite large - but after that we’ll be sleeping in the open, or in taverns if we’re lucky. We should take advantage of its shelter while we can.”

Kallid nodded, but eyed the space with a new focus. Though kobolds were small compared to humans, the area inside the carriage was never intended to be used as a bedroom. Most likely the kids would sleep on the floor while he and Miss Tribi would each take one of the bench seats.

Still quite snug. Well, there was no help for that unless one of the two of them slept atop the carriage, which likely was where the guards would stay. Or underneath if it rained.

Some time later, Kallid was awoken by the carriage stopping.

“Everybody out!” came a voice from outside. It was Mr. Bross, who was the nominal leader of the four guards. “We’ve come to the river.”

Kallid climbed down out of the carriage and helped each of the kids down as well as Miss Tribi herself. They then walked to where the road ran down to the river. It didn’t look far, and looked quite shallow, but the break gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs and tails.

“Mr. Bross, do you recommend we cross the river on the horses maybe?” Kallid asked. “Night could fly across this, I’m sure, but Miss Tribi and I could hold onto the girls.”

“Oh, no need for that, Sir Kobold,” Mr. Bross said, looking down at Kallid. “I’ve been across here a number of times. The water won’t even reach the floorboards. Just climb on top.”

“Sorry, I don’t have any experience in such things,” Kallid apologized. “And please, just call me Kallid, okay?”

The whiskered face shook it’s head. “I shall not, Sir Kobold. Protocol. You are in our care, but are to be treated as the King’s friends. With that comes certain privileges. I know you mean well, but those two are members of the King’s Guard, and Miss Coyle and I are emissaries of his Royal Highness. It keeps our minds in the right places, Sir Kobold.”

“Well, at least call me Sir Kallid then?”

Mr. Bross considered that for a moment. “Agreed, Sir Kallid. Now, you’ve been riding quite some time. For privacy there are some bushes there that should provide what is needed. I see your daughters already have the right idea. When you are done, we will make a small meal before crossing.”

Kallid’s eyes shot to where Grace and Kalindra were running and giggling. Though nothing appeared dangerous here, he was already disappointed in them. Who knows what could be lurking behind the bushes. He ran after them, calling for them to stop, with Night flapping close behind.

“Night, go ahead of them and make sure there’s nothing to worry about in those bushes, okay?”

“Sure Dad!” Night said, and Kallid was surprised at how fast his son was able to fly. Most of the time he just hovered or flew up or down. On their weekly picnics he had been free to fly in the open like this, but he usually stayed near the family. But now he was away like a dart!

“All clear Dad!” he called as Kallid caught up with his daughters.

“Thanks son!” He called ahead.

“Now girls, you’ve already forgotten. Do NOT run off like this! Do you hear me?”

“But Dad, we had to pee!”

“I know. But wait for us grown ups to tell you it’s safe, okay? Now go on. Do your business.”

The girls went behind the bushes, giggling all the way. Meanwhile Night stepped around another bush, having obviously finished his own call of nature.

“You’re really fast, Night. I was impressed!”

“Aw, thanks Dad. I’m sorry about this morning.”

“I know you are. You’re a good boy, Night. My best son.”

Night grinned from ear to ear. A clearly human gesture he’d learned, but all the children had picked up such mannerisms from the humans. He hugged his son. Someday Night might figure out the unsaid part of that - he was also Kallid’s only son.

In the end, the river crossing was a non-event. The kobolds all rode atop the carriage, wary of the possibility of being tipped over, but it didn’t happen and all arrived safely at the far side. In fact, the water had been so shallow that even the children would have been able to wade through all but the deepest parts.

Mr. Bross had refilled their water barrel as well, and they continued on into the late afternoon.

More miles rumbled by as the sun began to set and Miss Tribi brought out the blankets. The season was just passing spring into summer, and though the nights were still cool Kallid thought about what this trip would have been like at any other time of the year. He sincerely hoped they would arrive at the mysterious town of Fallon before winter set in. If Kreet were there, they could hope to ride out the winter’s worst. For that matter, she might consider just staying there. Though he’d come to like life in the city, perhaps a smaller town would be more agreeable. It had been where she’d grown up after all.

Finally the regular bumping of the carriage took on an off-road tone and he looked out to see they were being taken off the road.

“Staying here for the night,” Mr. Bross called, and soon the carriage had come to a stop a short way off the road. Once again he helped the children and Miss Tribi down, but this time his kids didn’t run off. He led them to a large tree nearby where they took turns. By the time they got back, the guards had built a small campfire and were preparing to cook something.

“I’m sorry. We weren’t formally introduced before,” Mr. Bross said as he walked back to the little makeshift camp. “I’m Mr. Bross. I know Miss Tribi here…”

“Aunt Tribi!” Grace interjected.

Mr. Bross laughed. “Well she’s not my aunt!”

This caused Grace some consternation, but Mr. Bross went on. “And you are Sir Kallid, husband of the missing and somewhat renowned Miss Kreet I understand.”

“That’s right. And these are my children, Grace, Kalindra and my boy, Night.”

One of the guards building the fire grumbled. “Oh, I know him all right. Almost made me climb a tree to snatch him down!”

“And this,” Mr. Bross said as he introduced the grumbler, “is Mr. Todd and Mr. Price.”

The other stood and bowed his head quickly. Both men were older than Mr. Bross and looked a bit grizzled behind their moustaches. However, both also wore the insignia of the King’s Guard so Kallid knew that - if he could trust the King himself - he could reliably trust these men too who had sworn themselves to him.

“And finally this,” Mr. Bross continued, gesturing to the woman who had just come up with another armful of logs, “is my fiance, Miss Coyle.”

“Good to meet you, Miss Coyle,” Kallid said, imitating the nod he’d seen before.

“And me - you, I’m sure. I’m sorry, we don’t really know much about kobolds. Is there anything special you eat or drink?”

“Oh, no. Anything you like, we’ll be just fine with.”

“Say, Sir. Kallid,” Mr. Todd began.

“You know, surely Mister Kallid will do? I’m not knighted or anything!”

“That is, Mr. Kallid then…” Mr. Todd resumed.

Kallid already started thinking of him as ‘the fat one’, though he could only be considered as such because both Mr. Bross and Mr. Price were so lean. He was, in fact, not all that fat at all had it not been for the comparison. Besides, Kallid had known Sigmundurr and - though he’d been much larger than Mr. Todd - he’d also been as strong as an ox.

“I saw you had a little bow with you. Fancy doing a little hunting with me while we’ve some light left? We’ve got a good store of salted meat, but I’d much prefer something fresh.”

Kallid looked to him, then to Miss Tribi.

“Go ahead,” she assured him. “I’ll look after the kids.”

“Certainly then, Mr. Todd! Let me go fetch it and some arrows! I’m not very good though.”

“Well then, Mr. Kobold, you’d best get practicing!” he called as Kallid ran back to the carriage.

“We’ll be back in about an hour, kids!” Kallid called as he ran back. He couldn’t help the eagerness on his face. He’d always wanted to take his bow hunting. While he had the thought of using it for self-defense originally, he was none too sure he could actually shoot it at someone else. But he felt he had gotten good enough to possibly bring down some game.

“Now, you keep an arrow loose, but nocked Mr. Kallid. When hunting you need to be ready at all times. And one more thing…”

“Yes Mr. Todd?”

“Don’t shoot me.”

“Don’t shoot you. Got it.”

“That’s the #1 rule of hunting, Mr. Kallid. Don’t shoot your fellow hunters. Okay. And be quiet. If we see a deer,, let it go. We’ve got no place to store anything big. Just watch for small animals. Rabbits, squirrels and the like.”

Kallid nodded and followed the man into the grass of a nearby open space. He tried being quiet as possible, but his feet seemed far too big to be stealthy, while Mr. Todd was silent as a cat.

However, before they’d seen anything but some small birds that flew off far too quickly, he realized he had a problem. The grass was getting too tall. He could still see over it, but he would be in no position to see anything small ahead of him. Before he thought to say anything, Mr. Todd suddenly drew his bow back and fired at something off to their right. Kallid looked at him in wonder. It had been so fast and smooth! He would have still been trying to sight the prey - whatever it was.

“Did you get it?” Kallid asked as he struggled to keep up with Mr. Todd who was running towards what he’d shot.

“Of course!” the big man laughed back. “I always get what I aim for. A hare, Mr. Kallid. We’ll need a lot more to feed us all, but if nothing else it will make a fine flavoring in some soup!”

They came to where the hare lay dead, the arrow piercing it’s head. Kallid wondered aloud if this man might actually have been aiming for the head to be merciful.

“Ha! No, Mr. Kallid. I’m not that good! But let’s go on. There’ll be more!”

It was getting truly dark when they returned. Kallid hadn’t hit anything, but he had at least worked out the problem of the grass when he’d told Mr. Todd and the guard had led to an area where the grass was shorter. And he’d been passably close with at least one shot.

Surprisingly, it was Miss Tribi that took the catch and began to skin them.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. it’s not that surprising I know how to skin a hare,” she said to Kallid later as they all sat around the fire waiting for the soup to finish boiling. “The rabbits they sell at the market are much cheaper when bought whole. I save a lot of money stripping them myself.”

“Dad,” Kalindra quizzically. “What’s the difference between a hare and a rabbit?”

Miss Tribi fielded that one, thankfully.

Night had tried to get Mr. Bross to pour him ale to drink while they were eating, but Kallid hadn’t even had to say anything. Instead Mr. Bross had downed his own ale and poured water into his large wooden mug and handed it to the little kobold.

“Here. Water for you, Mr. Night,” he said, setting the big mug in Night’s hands. Yet the young kobold seemed just as pleased with getting the big human mug and made a satisfied “Ahhh!” just like the men did after he’d taken a drink. That set everyone to laughing.

Later the kobolds returned to the carriage and settled in for the night. There was an awkward moment between Kallid and Miss Tribi as they changed into their sleeping clothes, but they managed to get through it without too much embarrassment.

The children went to sleep within a few minutes, but Kallid was left nervously staring at the ceiling and listening to the snoring of the guards outside.

“Kallid? Are you awake?” Miss Tribi said in whispered Kobold.

“Of course.”

“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to…”

“I know. Me too. We’ll just have to get used to it. It’s very tight in here. We’ll just have to do our best and… ignore accidental contact as much as possible.”

“I’ll try,” Miss Tribi said. “It’s not going to be easy for me. But I know you love her.”

“I do. But believe me, if I didn’t…”

Silence followed.

“Have you... lost weight?” Kallid said finally, not sure if he should ask.

“Oh! You noticed? Yes, I’ve been exercising! I had to get fit for this trip, you know!”

“Somehow I don’t believe you’ve only been exercising for the last week,” Kallid whispered, stifling a chuckle.

“Well… no. I started before that,” she admitted a bit sheepishly, giving him an embarrassed look.

“Oh, I’m flattered. It shows. So... what’s coming up tomorrow?”

“Hold on. Let me get my notes…”

Kallid glanced over and saw Miss Tribi digging through her pack behind the bench. He instantly turned back. She certainly had firmed up! Her tail brushed across him and he closed his eyes tightly.

“Let’s see,” said the source of his agitation. “Oh! There’s a big stone bridge on the way. That should be interesting. And the road goes through a big forest. We should be able to stay at a tavern in Vyrn tomorrow night.”

“That’ll be nice. Real beds!”

Miss Tribi climbed back up to put her notes back in her pack. Kallid couldn’t help himself. His eyes acted of their own accord. Yes… she seemed much, much firmer!

She turned back unexpectedly and their eyes locked.

“I’m sorry Miss Tribi!” Kallid said, the color of kobold blushing in his eyes now.

“Oh, now I’m flattered, Kallid. And I understand completely. You know I’ve been just as bad. No, worse. But I think we can manage. If we’re careful.”

“Do you think we’re… more bestial than humans, Miss Tribi? Do you think they don’t have these problems?” Kallid asked, nodding towards the humans outside.

“Oh no. I’ve read… I’ve seen. No. Just because we have tails doesn’t mean we’re any more or less in control of ourselves than they are. Believe me. We can prove them wrong - those who think that way. We can be good. We will be.”

She’d settled in under her blanket and Kallid reached his hand out to her. She took it and squeezed. “Thank you for understanding. It’s not easy,” he said.

“Don’t I know! But I love her too. I may not have made a marital promise to her, but I honor your promise. I’ll try to be less… female.”

“Good luck with that. Like you said, we’ll manage. We can prove them wrong.”

“Good night, Kallid.”

“Good night, Kreet.”

He didn’t notice the mistake and eventually fell to sleep.

But she noticed. And smiled.