The Morning After

Chapter 156

After the unexpected rescue Ban hadn’t had much time to think. After Dawn had saved Calen’s life through the power of a goddess he’d never heard of, they'd been ushered into a surprisingly lush valley. From there they’d been taken to a kind of lodging house near where they’d exited. A fortunate thing as they’d barely been able to make it that far.

Without the adrenaline of the chase to drive them forward, the band had felt their exhaustion catch up with them. Everything after that was a blur for Ban. A light meal and strange drinks were the only things that stood out before sleep overtook him.

Lulled to sleep by the presence of his band, Ban had slept like a dead thing and found his body protesting violently when he woke. He felt absolutely horrible, but far better than he’d have expected. A light in the dark drew his attention and he found himself looking into glowing golden eyes.

“Privy’s down there at the end,” Dawn commented dryly. She was sitting just across the way from the bunks in a rocking chair. In her hands was some kind of weaving by the look of the needles and small hand loom.

“Ha, be a minute before I need that I suspect. Been a spell since I drank properly,” Ban said, giving a hoarse laugh. He’d had something earlier, watered juice if he wasn’t misremembering, but he hadn’t had much during the time before that.

“Here then, have a bit more if you can stomach it,” Dawn said. She was close enough to reach over and offer a flask to Ban without getting up. He drank gratefully and felt a bit better after, the ache in his body lessening a touch. A turn of events which left him certain he was going to be pissing brown sludge when he finally did. The seekers had been a misery, but running low of water like they had toward the end, would have been enough on its own.

Feeling fractionally better and still just as tired, Ban handed back the flask and slept again after a few moments. When he woke the second time, it was to the scent of roast vegetables and fresh bread. Ignoring the way his body ached in favor of his belly he got up, following the others similarly awakened who were likely following their noses.

The scent led them out into a kind of courtyard with a covered place full of tables and benches. Ewen was already there, mouth stuffed with something, but Ban hardly noticed when he caught sight of Calen. He was sitting at the table, laughing with his mouth full at some joke Ewen had likely told him.

Ban’s legs gave out under him. He’d seen Dawn had healed the lad, but he still hadn’t fully believed it. He’d expected the dying would just take a bit longer, as he’d never heard of anyone capable of healing such an injury. Not even clerics of the few faiths he knew much about.

There was a moment of panic and Ban was quickly helped up and to a table. Water was pushed at him, but nothing else for the moment. He drank, Dawn having appeared and insisting he do so.

“I’m alright, just… tired,” Ban lied to try and quell the worried mutterings.

“I was soft-legged when I first got up too. You’ll be alright after a while,” Ewen offered. “Should he eat?”

Ewen was asking Dawn and Ban didn’t blame him. Given the healing miracle she’d worked, he’d have been asking her advice too.

“A small bowl to start, if he feels he can, though he’ll feel better after he’s pissed I suspect,” Dawn said. It was the same dry tone she’d used to inform Ban of where the privy was.

“Right then,” Ewen agreed and sent Calen off. The boy returned a moment later with a small pitcher.

“It's all you're allowed to have just now. The Lady, Dawn's Mistress, warns against drinking too much all at once,” Callen explained.

“Can't say I would have minded drowning yesterday,” Ban joked. That got a few chuckles; they all understood the feeling.

Unlike before, the stuff in the pitcher wasn’t purely water. It had a faint yellow-orange color to it and smelled sweet, reminding Ban of what he’d been given in the night. That had been more strongly colored though. This was likely the same juice but diluted. It was sweet but acidic and he found it soothing to drink, as if it was quelling his lingering pain.

“That tastes good… where was the privy again?” Ban asked, the urge hitting him strongly mid thanks. Everyone pointed toward a door with a crescent moon painted on it and Ban was off like a shot.

Once inside the room Ban didn’t have time to question the fact that there was a fancy-looking seat with a bowl under it rather than a hole in the ground. He just got to business, resisting the urge to yowl at the burn of it. He’d been right about it coming out an ugly color, if not which one. Once he was done, he took a step back and was surprised to see the foul liquid simply disappear in a shimmer of light.

Ban thankfully was wearing a kilt else he’d have embarrassed himself running out of the room in shock.

“Neat bit of magic, eh?” Calen called.

“A magic privy?” Ban asked. It was the only reasonable explanation for what he’d witnessed, but that didn’t mean it made sense.

“Can you think of a better place to use it?” a man asked.

“Well… not exactly but-” Ban did a double take. The group at the tables had increased in numbers while he was doing his business. Seated among the band were humans and several other races he couldn’t put a name to.

One group was taller with pointed ears. Another shorter and stout but close to human height. The third ones were the height of children but with mature features and larger round ears and rat-like tails. If not for the distinctiveness he might have mistaken them for odd variations on humans themselves.

The man who’d spoken was one of the little folk, but he was sitting on the tabletop next to Dawn rather than on the bench. He grinned at Ban, bright blue eyes alright with mischief.

“Ban, this is my betrothed, Icarus,” Dawn offered with a sigh. Icarus was more tanned than the others of his kind with a mane-like shock of black hair and a nasty scar that pulled half his mouth into a perpetual smirk.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Icarus said.

“The honor’s mine; I can't thank any of you enough for your help and hospitality,” Ban managed to get out after the surprise wore off. He truly believed they’d all have died without it.

“Don’t stand on formality and feel free to ask anyone here if you need anything. Misst- Miss Mayor was happy we could help you all,” Icarus said. Dawn nodded in agreement.

“Thank you, but we’ve brought you trouble. The seekers won’t give up on us. If you're caught harboring us, they’ll attack you as well,” Ban said honestly. As much as he and his band needed help, it wouldn’t do to repay kindness with peril.

“Oh, that isn’t a problem. The maze is an ancient relic. When the short path sealed the others became impassable,” Dawn explained. “The Mayor will have to reopen it before anyone can move in or out again.”

“Fuck me, that's nice to have,” Ewen said. Ban agreed with his sentiment, but elbowed him discreetly in the ribs for cursing all the same. They were in front of their benefactors, it would be proper to show some manners.

“It truly must be a blessing,” Ban offered. Icarus snickered, but it didn’t seem meanly meant.

Sitting down, Ban pondered what little he knew and found it was easy to understand Hetcha’s reverence for the place. It was also easy to understand why she’d kept certain details like the maze from him.

Ban had to admit he’d have thought she’d gone mad if he’d told her the town was protected by a relic of such power. It had been hard enough to believe the locals would be welcoming.

“We were sent here by one of our kin, Hetcha. She said the hermit would welcome us and we’d like to thank her along with your mayor, whenever they might find time for us,” Ban ventured. He had things he needed to discuss with both of them, but he wasn’t going to risk offense with impatience.

“Both are busy dealing with the seekers, but they’ll be sure to speak with you soon. We’ve been left instructions to see to your needs in the meantime though, so I hope you’ll understand,” Dawn replied.

“Certainly,” Ban said without hesitation. He didn’t know what operating a magic maze entailed, but he certainly wasn’t going to bother them while they were at it.

“In the meantime, you should get in a bath and we'll fix you all up with some clothes and things. No offense but you all have seen better days,” Icarus said.

“Icarus,” Dawn said sharply. Her betrothed just smiled benignly.

“No, that's a fair point,” Ban said, knowing it was an exceedingly kind description.

“Baths are a bit magic too, by the way,” Icarus added.

“Likely for the best, I’d pity anyone having to scrub up after us,” Ewen said. Ban gave him a look and realized Dawn was giving Icarus a similar one. They commiserated for a moment. It wasn't like Ban disagreed, but there had to be a better way to say it.