-What is this all about? It’s not like I’m letting that guy go, not even an option!

-No, no, it’s not like that.

-So what’s going on?

-I wanted to ask, what do you actually want to do with him?

She stopped to think for a moment.

-I thought about locking him up somewhere out of sight, but… I don’t have many places to choose from.

-So you had a place in mind?

-Yeah. That guy we got the info from, Jack, was it? His “inn” should be a good place, right? Out of sight, and I don’t think he’d care if I paid him enough…

-You know - I said, peeking outside to check on the man outside - not so long ago, I’d say that it’s a good idea, but now I am having second thoughts.

-Why? I mean sure, he’s a slimy type, but that’s just given.

-Yeah, that’s not the problem. Remember, I told you I met Erf?

-Uh-uh. So what?

-When I arrived at the capital with the caravan, we had some trouble with guards and shit, and guess who bailed us out on it?

-You mean…

-Odar Erf. Yep. A friend of the caravan leader.

-What does that have to do with the innkeeper though?

-Jack was the one who recommended we go to him. Meaning they do know each other. And that’s an understatement.

-That’s… huh.

-Yeah. I don’t know what to think about all this. It might be just one big coincidence, but even so, if we’d to leave him in Jack’s place, Erf would inevitably learn about that, and most likely take him.

-That would not be ideal.

-Yep.

-So what are you suggesting?

-Why won’t we go back to Red Edge? They do have a dungeon there. For is your friend, right? She surely won’t mind. And you have to deliver that potion anyway.

-True. But there is a small problem.

-What, I know you still can’t cast but you just need…

-No - she interrupted me. - I mean, that as well, but that’s not the main problem. Remember when I said I used the “emergency measures?”

-Yeah…?

-To teleport us there I need an anchor. And I have a limited amount of those. Two, to be precise. Well, one now since I already used the first one to get there…

-And let me guess. You don’t have the other one with you.

-Yeah…

-For fuck sake. That’s pretty much the most important thing we needed - I sighed. - Ehh… Where is it?

-Back home. I sort of forgot about it in the heat of the moment… Sorry…

I guess things were a bit hectic back then. She was pretty shaken with kidnapping and all that…

-But I can just teleport us back home and we can go from there! - she added quickly. - I think I am already recovered, so we can go at once.

-If you say so…

She nodded and was about to leave to prepare the spell.

-Are you sure you’re fine though? - I grabbed her by the arm. - You’ve been relying a bit much on that potion lately…

-I’m fine. Not the first time I used it, nor last - she said, shaking me off. - Sweet of you to worry though.

-Yeah, yeah. Just be careful. That thing is definitely stronger than the stuff you’re used to.

-I know - she replied and left, digging through her pouch.

I lingered for a second inside, not sure what to think about this. So far, everyone I met was quite weak in mana capacity, but she seemed different. Besides tolerating the potion way too well in my opinion, it looked like her capacity was similar to mine, at least from before the “event”. To be honest, now I was not sure about mine. It seemed endless, which was bothering me, though I had a good idea why…

Before I finished my train of thought though, I heard Melle calling me from outside. As I jumped out of the ship and made sure that the illusion was still in place, I saw her grab Rubo from the ground and make him stand up.

-Ready?

-Yeah, yeah.

This time, the portal she created appeared on the sand in front of us. Remembering how that worked out last time I groaned.

-Who’s first?

-You of course. Go and don’t break your legs.

-Uh-uh…

Not encouraged by her words, I stepped forward and jumped into the opening.

A moment of confusion later, I got spit out in a very familiar room, landing on the floor right next to the bed. Landing was not that bad if you knew what’s going on. Seconds later, the portal on the wall spit out the cocoon with Rubo and then Melle right after.

-Go get your shit and let’s go.

-Yeah.

Without wasting time, she left the room, leaving me with the tied up man waiting for her return.

-So this is the place…

I turned to Rubo. He was still lying on the floor, but he rolled himself over so he could see the surroundings and was carefully inspecting the room.

-I expected something…

-What?

-I don’t know, when I heard she’s a witch I didn’t think that she’d be living so…neatly…

Neatly? Well true, the room was pretty much spotless, but that was not because of her habits. After all, it was not that long ago that we had to clean up the mess after certain people.

-What, you thought she’d be living in some cave or some shit?

-Actually, yes… From the stories I’ve heard about forest witches, that’s what I expected to see. Some underground caves…

I laughed.

-That’s some strange stories. You’ll have to tell me someday.

-That is if I live that long.

-Come on, she’s not going to kill you. While she’s a bit unhinged thanks to the recent events, she’s not that bad in general.

Suddenly, I got interrupted by a loud noise. Storming out the room I noticed Melle standing with her hand extended towards the door that was now missing, along with a tipped over chair and some random items scattered on the floor.

-What the hell is going on?

-Brace yourself! He's here!

-He?

She did not reply, instead raised her hands and started chanting.

Every single piece of furniture and wooden item suddenly sprung to life. Some of them grew tentacle-like vines, some just straight up turned into them completely and joined with others, wrapping themselves around each other like some sort of rope. Soon the whole room was filled with a wiggling green mass that shot forward, crashing into the opening left after the door in an attempt to stop whoever was outside.

In all of the mess, I noticed that her vines were not the only ones that were present.

Mixed in were also other ones, also green, but more tentacle-looking and less plantlike that were coming towards us from the outside.

While she had a lot more of them, the ones from outside were a lot stronger and faster, slowly inching forward, despite her attempts at stopping them.

-Stop gawking and either help or get the hell out!

-You want me to burn your house down?!

-I'd rather you'd not do that - a voice sounded from outside.

Before I was able to react, the spell of hers got overpowered, and whoever was talking sent his abomination of a spell barreling straight towards me, striking me right in the head. My vision darkened for a second and the tentacles instantly wrapped me from head to toe, blocking my movement and vision.

I expected them to be cold and maybe wet, like all the other green magic I was on the receiving end lately, but the feeling was… odd. While definitely strange, the things that wrapped me were completely dry and slightly warm. Almost comfortable, dare I say.

-Please refrain from using violence, especially fire magic - a muffled, yet familiar voice sounded somewhere nearby.

Odar Erf.

It was followed by a bunch of curses and Melle screaming some spell, ineffective I assume, because he started talking again.

-You've gotten rusty. In your prime you could easily repel me, and now what? Ehh… What happened to you?

-Not your business! - she replied.

Her voice was accompanied with some rumbling.

-Please, stop. I don't want to hurt you.

-Like hell I will!

Another spell. And another bunch of curses.

-Okay, I'm done with this.

-But I am not!

The whole room started shaking violently. I wasn't able to see anything, but judging by the horrible noise, something was destroying the wall. I could feel some rubble fall on top of me, knocking the air out of my lungs.

-Calm down! You'll bring the whole house down!

-I don't care, as long as I am taking me with you!

I felt a pull and I got dragged away from the rubble along with something else human size.

-What the fuck! - I heard a yell next to me.

It was Rubo, apparently he got pulled out from the rubble along with me.

I started hearing more rumbling and the sound of breaking wood, a lot louder this time, and after that silence.

Next thing I knew was yet another human sized object hit me and started wiggling next to me.

-Woman, you are unrelenting. Why can't you listen to me for a second?!

I only heard a muffled response. So she also got gagged.

-Look what have you done! I thought that was your home. Eh…

I felt him walk closer to us and Rubo shudder next to me.

-Come on. Stand up. Maybe you can explain what's going on here. Why are you even here?

-I don't know. I swear I was doing exactly as I said! I left the city and was never going to…

-Yeah, yeah - he interrupted. - Don't change the subject.

-Of course, of course. I was traveling with the caravan you recommended and met this one. He offered me a passage through the sea and away from the continent. I thought he might be one of your agents and was scared to refuse, so…

Agents? Excuse me?

Odar was apparently as surprised as I was.

-I already told you, you're on your own. There was no one dispatched to help or follow…

-Yes, yes, of course. But he indeed had a transport, magical in fact! And then that woman attacked me! They both took me hostage and teleported here, when…

-Teleported? - he interrupted. - He can do that?

-She. This guy is a Red Mage!

A silence suddenly fell on both of them.

-Are you sure?

-Yes. He has the necklace.

-That complicates things.

They continued to talk for a while. Rubo continued to explain how exactly we met and how I baited him to the boat. The initial fear that he showed was mostly gone at that point. Hard to tell how long we were lying there on the ground.

During their discussion I noticed that my bindings were slowly changing. When he first bound me, they were constantly moving, sort of like a living creature, but now they were getting harder and colder, almost like they were fossilizing. Strangely enough, it also made me feel heavier for some reason, and, most likely thanks to prolonged contact with his magic, my crystal stump started to itch as well. It was not pleasant.

-Wonder how I am going to explain all this… No matter. I think it's time to move - Odar finally announced.

-Ah. Okay, then I'll be off then. Don't want to intrude…

-Oh, no no no… you're coming with me. I already gave you a chance once. This time you're not begging me, you're going to take this matter to the king himself.

-Oh Gods… - I heard him mutter.

-It's just the matter of you going with me on your own or like those two.

-I'd prefer to go as it is, thank you.

-So it's settled.

I heard him stand up and then a bit of rustling.

-You hear me? - I felt a hand on my shoulder. - Try standing up. We're moving.

I didn't really have much say in that matter, but when he pulled me up from the ground I did not resist.

-Good. At least one of you is cooperative.

Ah. I guess Melle was still a bit rebellious…

-Come on, I know I was a bit rough, but…

I heard more rustling and some other sounds that I assume was him trying to get her to stand.

-I swear, you're something else… can you… - he stopped mid sentence. The rustling stopped as well.

-Well I'll be damned. She fainted. Damnit. Rubo, carry her.

-Why me?

-Because I need to open the portal and I'm not going to do that while carrying someone.

He stopped complaining and judging by the noise, he picked her up.

-Ready?

The next thing I felt was someone pushing me forward and a very familiar feeling of teleportation. I was still blindfolded and gagged, the gag now being almost as hard as a rock in my mouth, so it was hard to assess where I ended up this time.

Quick walk later I heard Odar talk with someone, but the content of the conversation was lost to me, the bindings made it hard to try and eavesdrop.

-You must excuse me for the treatment so far - I heard after a few minutes. - You'll have to endure this for a bit more.

I think he was talking to me, but it was hard to guess.

Constrained like this he led me somewhere. When we finally stopped, I felt a hand on my shoulder, pushing me and making me sit down. I didn't resist.

-Thank you. And sorry again. I cannot unbind you yet, but just for your knowledge: we are now in Arbo, the capital, and to be exact in the main palace. We are to wait for the word from the king so he can decide on what to do with you. If you're actually a Red Mage, I am sure he'll release you instantly, but first we'll need to contact your boss. Shouldn't be long.

I shifted on the chair, or whatever that was I was sitting on, uncomfortably. Out of all the places, I landed in Arbo? Hah. What even… So far I decided not to try and struggle, but not like I really could since I was gagged.

Back at the island I didn't really have time to react before I got bound, and even if I was able to, I most likely wouldn't have. Antagonizing someone who's working directly under the current king was definitely not a good idea.

The silence that fell after he finished speaking was interrupted by knocking, followed by opening of the door. Some rustling and a muffled conversation later I heard it close back up and some hurried steps moving away from me.

Just as I thought I was left alone in the room, Odar spoke up.

-Consider yourself a lucky person. I just got a word that the king himself wants to have a chat with you.

King? Well shit, good thing that I did not resist then.

-You've been cooperative this far, so I don't think you'll do anything stupid, but I'll say anyway - he suddenly started sounding a lot more serious. - I will not tolerate any hostile gestures towards His Majesty. This is your one and only warning.

I heard some shuffling again.

-The formalities aside - he went back to his normal tone of voice - I will now try and let you actually see, so don't move for a second…

I felt him approach and heard the unsheathing of a blade, and soon he started cutting some of the vines that were wrapped around my head. I sort of was wondering why he didn't just use the spell to move them away, since they were his creation after all, but not like I could ask him about it.

A minute of cutting, or rather struggling to cut the bindings later - the fossilized growth was definitely hard to deal with - I finally was able to see again.

I was sitting in a room that was pretty similar to the ones I've been in Arbo - made of natural wood and not very decorated. I was sitting on what looked like a shelf, or maybe rather a prison bed, with another small one right next to it on a wall, that what I assumed was supposed to be a table. There were no windows and the only source of light was a small crystal hanging from the ceiling, tied to a vine. I swear, people never use regular ropes here…

The only other furniture was a simple stool, standing on the opposite side of the room, or maybe I should call it what it actually was - a cell.

Odar was standing next to me, and after making sure that the rest of the bindings were still intact, he went back towards the door, standing watch.

I shifted in place and looked at him questioningly.

-I am not undoing any other bindings. While I don't think you're dumb enough to try anything, you're going to be meeting the king soon after all. Safety is the priority here.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, or at least wanted to.

-Don't look at me like that. You…

He got interrupted by knocking on the door.

Without a word, he turned his back to me and peeked outside, but as soon as he did, he flinched and stepped back, opening the door fully.

I have never seen him before, but there was no mistaking it - it was the king himself. He was wearing a long, green robe, somewhat similar to those I've seen on For's people, although his was even longer and dragged after him on the ground, almost like a cloak. Besides the one green pendant that he was wearing over his clothes, he was not wearing any jewelry, although the one he had was shining gold, with a large, green adorned gem. It almost looked like it was glowing, but it probably was just the reflection of the light. His hair was short and gray, or rather white to be precise, contrasting with his face - a lot younger looking than the hair would suggest, cleanly shaved. On his head, there was something akin to a laurel, even with leaves.

-Your Majesty - Odar bowed, as soon as the man entered the room. - I was not aware you would be joining us personally. I was waiting…

-I know - his voice was calm, and sort of soothing. - But I couldn't help myself. Hope you don't mind.

-Of course not, sir. As you wish sir.

The door closed behind him, and the air suddenly changed. While Odar still looked somewhat on the edge, he smiled.

-I don't think the king should visit a place like this. I was waiting for your word and about to bring him to you…

-Shush - he smiled back. - And lose an opportunity to talk with you in private? You are not that lucky.

He didn't reply, just sighed and moved away, blocking the door.

-Now for the main part…

He turned to me, looking me over.

-I assume you are aware of who I am.

I nodded, after a second of hesitation. It was not in the slightest the way I expected to meet with a ruler.

-Good. Let me cut to the chase then. I was told that you are a part of Red Mages. Is that right?

-As far as we are aware, yes - replied Odar for me.

I just looked at the ceiling, annoyed. While I didn't mind being considered one of them, so far it only brought me problems.

-While I believe your sources, it's not something we cannot check. This is an important matter.

-Yes, of course, I…

-You've already dispatched people to send the message to For. I know. That's the reason I am here. The reply arrived.

Both me and Odar looked at him surprised. While he was surprised most likely because of the speed of the response, I was surprised that she was able to reply at all.

-Yeah, that's the problem. The response was quite strange… In short she said she is unable to come and confirm or deny that he is one of her people personally, because she apparently has fallen ill. Along with some of her closest associates.

-That is problematic.

-Indeed. But also said that they should just search the person in question, since all of her people own some sort of a mark I should recognize. Does he?

-I have not searched him yet…

-Then go get to it.

-Of course, but… I'd recommend you to leave the room. As far as I know he's armed and capable of spellcasting, only my binds prevent him from attacking you…

Odar pierced me with his eyes.

-If he knows what's good for him, he's going to cooperate. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to do something like this, especially if they are her associate.

Well, I didn't plan on it, but that was awfully bold to proclaim for him.

The king apparently shared my opinion.

-While I think so as well, isn't it just better for you to wait in another room? I mean, better safe than sorry…

He rolled his eyes.

-Odar. We both know that there is absolutely no way that he would be able to hurt me.

-Eh… of course… - he sighed.

-Proceed then. If you are that worried then maybe just unbind his hands.

-Why hands?

-Since you are scared he's going to cast something, it's better than mouth. And since he heard what I said, I assume he can just show us the item in question, right? - he looked at me questioningly. - We'll go from there.

I nodded, agreeing. While For didn't mention anything specifically, the item she had to be talking about had to be the necklace. If showing them that was enough to at least build that much trust that they'd let me speak, I was all up for it.

-You see?

-I still think that's not the smartest way to do things… - Odar complained, but approached me and started cutting some of my binds.

-Yeah, in regular circumstances just searching him would be enough, but I cannot risk that with a Red Mage. Last time we tried that…

Odar winced and nodded.

-I do remember - he said as he finished cutting the vines, freeing my arm.

As I stretched my arm, a bit sore from the position I was tied in, Odar stepped back, carefully observing my movements. I thought about trying to calm him down and gesture that I am not going to try anything, but decided against it. Not like anyone would understand me waving my hand around, and even worse, he might think I'm trying to cast something. Not like that was possible without talking though, but I already learned that people here are not exactly versed in the rules of magic, so who knows what they'd think.

-So… - the king gestured to me. - The item?

Right. I started patting myself, trying to feel it and finally found it wrapped under a thick layer of vines, on my chest. I didn't even bother trying to pull it out, just pointed to the large bump where the necklace was and gestured in indifference.

-It's there? Well that's problematic…

-I don't think I can cut that without releasing him…

-Will his mouth still be bound?

-I think so.

I gestured towards them that I will keep quiet.

The king nodded, understanding what I was trying to say.

-Do it. be on your guard though. Just in case.

He looked at me apologetically.

I just shrugged and waited for Odar to approach and start cutting again.

Not even a minute later I was able to finally pull out the necklace, but as soon as I did, both of them suddenly tensed up. Understanding why, I quickly put it down in front of me on the table and raised my hand in a gesture of surrender.

They both looked at me suspiciously, but the king leaned closer, picking up the item in question. After inspecting it carefully, he nodded.

-Yeah. As expected.