I’d thought about trying it locally just to verify my mom was right, that I truly had that power, but that hadn’t worked either. Of course, I hadn’t wanted to cross the room nearly as bad as I’d wanted to go home. I was also conflicted, if I could do it across the room, that would mean I couldn’t use it to get home, if that makes sense?
My powers don’t work well when I only half want something to happen. It was of course, the reason I was here. The vortex could never have sucked me in if my powers hadn’t failed in that moment of doubt and guilt at screwing up my mom’s plan, and how they’d react to it.
I gave up and went downstairs for dinner, the barmaid brought me extra helpings on the plate, no doubt remembering my appetite from yesterday, and I smiled gratefully. Then I took another bath. When the sun went down I returned to my room to get some sleep. I was sure Gerard would want to leave early right after breakfast, which was at sunup…
Chapter 6
Damn. Still here. It wasn’t just a bad dream.
I sighed, rolled out of bed, and changed into the travel clothes. The pants and leather shirt fit my body well, but were a little stiff. I supposed it would double as light armor, though it just made me miss the supple soft leather of my cat suit. I picked up my saddle bags, and went down for breakfast.
I smiled when I saw Gerard was already here, and went over to join him. As usual he was dressed in plate armor that looked terribly heavy.
“Good morning,” I said softly as I sat down in the chair and looked around for the barmaid.
Gerard nodded in greeting, “We should get going as soon as possible, if we’re to reach Greycliff by nightfall.”
I sighed, “You’re not much for small talk are you?”
His lips quirked, “No.”
I peered at him suspiciously, and then he added, “Not at this wretched time of the morning.”
I smiled, at least he had a sense of humor. This would have been a long trip otherwise. The barmaid brought me a heaping stack of eggs, bacon, and sausage. I dug in and ate quickly. I saw him raise his eyebrows at the size of my meal, but I didn’t bother explaining. I’d forever be explaining if I had, just what and how much was different in my world.
He asked, “What will you do if you’re stuck here?”
I shook my head, “Don’t even joke about that, I have to get home. Why do you want to know?”
He shrugged, “You have interesting skills, and I hear you can tame horses too. And I know you aren’t a witch, the kingdom could use your talents. We’re surrounded by two indifferent kingdoms to the east and west, and enemies to the north and south. You saved a lot of lives two days ago.”
I nodded slowly. I also felt like there was more behind the question, but I didn’t look for what that was. Telepathic ethics were important, even for supervillains, which I wasn’t one anymore, and I was no longer in danger or in desperate need of information.
“I’d do it again, and I can help out if something happens on the way to Magehaven. But I also need to get back to my family. If I get stuck here, I have no idea what I’d do. There has to be a way home though, I won’t just give up.”
His lips tightened, “I understand.”
I doubted he did, how could he?
I finished up breakfast a short time later, and we headed out. When we arrived at the edge of town, Stormy was in the paddock, saddled and ready to go. At least the weather was cooperating, it looked like it was going to be a nice day.
I asked the old man, “Any problems getting her saddled?”
He shook his head nervously, “No, she seemed eager for your return miss.”
I handed the old man a gold coin, and then opened the paddock gate. Stormy whinnied in excitement, and trotted over. The only problem was, is that I’d never ridden a horse before. I was pretty sure I could use my power to guide her, but I should learn the right way too. I whispered nonsense in her ears as I patted down her neck, and sent her happy thoughts.
I did manage to get my saddle bags secured, and mounted up without too much difficulty. But now what?
“How…”
Gerard smiled in amusement, and I couldn’t help but notice how much of a difference that made to his face. He was handsome without a smile, and with one he made my stomach flutter. I reminded myself I’d be leaving this world in a few days, and the hunky Anthony was the man I wanted.
He said in patient explanation, “Just squeeze your legs together to get her to move. You steer by moving the reigns, or using pressure on just one leg. And to stop pull back on the reigns gently, if you pull too hard you’ll hurt her. You’ll figure out the rest on the way.”
“Sounds easy enough, let’s go.”
He walked his horse toward the gate, and I didn’t need to do anything, Stormy just followed. It wasn’t until we were outside of the town walls that he moved to a trot. After a few minutes I decided to rename the trot horse gait to the torture the rider horse gait.
It took me quite a while to figure out how to bounce with the horse, rather than against the horse. Luckily, I was a super and my ass stopped hurting a short time later. I got the suspicious feeling he’d done it on purpose, because as soon as I got accustomed to a trotting horse, he pushed our pace into a canter. I would also swear he had a smile on his face.
The canter was much faster, and also felt like I’d moved from a car with no shocks going over speed bumps, to a luxury car on a smooth road in comparison. Trotting should be made illegal.
The scenery down here in southern Trelin was pretty flat, with copses of trees alongside the roads and lots of prairie grass. Gerard was pretty focused, and I wondered how common ambushers and bandits were on this magical world of monsters.
Gerard slowly warmed up as early morning gave way to midmorning, and we chatted lightly about nothing important. We even talked a little about the differences in our worlds, but it was impossible to explain things like the internet, airplanes and guns, not to mention that there was no magic at all. He didn’t fully relax though, and kept a sharp watch to the sides and the road ahead.
I decided to help too, there was no point in putting my head in the sand, and I scanned the area to the front and sides every minute or so with a telepathic wave. I should be able to pick up anything out there, animal or human that way. Except for maybe a shielded mage, I hadn’t even realized that last goblin was there until he’d screamed and shot fire at me. So I looked with my eyes too. I was disciplined enough for that.
We stopped for a quick lunch, and I finally asked about it.
“Do goblins make it up this far?”
Gerard shrugged and shook his hand in a sometimes gesture, and then explained, “Not that many, but some. And very rarely all the way to, much less past Greycliff. Not when there are farms and a town to snatch people and things from a half day’s ride back, and so much closer to the border. Mostly they don’t cooperate enough to form an army, so we just worry about small raids along the border. I’m actually more worried about human bandits in this area.”
“Mostly?”
He smiled teasingly, “Worried?”
I shook my head and suppressed the infantile urge to stick out my tongue.
“Not really, just curious.”
He said in a more serious voice, though he still smiled, “The tribes of orcs and goblins don’t get along, but the evil races can be controlled by dark witch spells, and even some mages can make them fear enough to listen. Ironically, it takes a human controlling a few chieftains to bring a large force together. That hasn’t happened in a long time though.”
I realized then I didn’t know all that much about Gerard. When I’d rummaged around in his mind, it had been for facts about the town, the world, and the language. Not about him or his life. I had to admit I was a little fascinated with him.
“So how did you become a paladin?” I asked curiously.
Gerard shook his head and looked me in the eyes, “That’s a long story. We should get moving again soon. But in short, I was a you
ng man who wished to become a warrior, and chose to worship Ictia when I came of age. It was her that found me worthy, and invited me to become a warrior of hers. We choose the god we worship, but they choose who will become clerics, or paladins.”
I nodded slowly a little shocked, “So… she spoke to you?”
On my world that would mean he was ready for a straitjacket, but here?
Gerard nodded and got a faraway look in his eyes, “I don’t know how it is in your world, but here the gods are connected to the ones that serve them, personally.”
I pondered that, and stole glances at him while we finished up lunch. I don’t know why, but I felt really drawn to him, it was more than just his looks and physique that caused it. I resisted the urge to flirt, and just finished my lunch. What was the point, when I’d just be leaving soon anyway?
Plus, I wasn’t sure just what it was about him that had me so fascinated, and I wondered if maybe it was nothing more than he was the only person I knew at all in this world, and he’d volunteered to help me, no questions asked. I almost snickered, did that make me the helpless maiden and him my white knight? Hardly, but I was grateful all the same.
I also pondered what he’d told me. A personal relationship with a god, what must that be like, to actually hold a conversation with a deity? I couldn’t even imagine it, except that I’d probably feel small and insignificant next to such a power.
We finished lunch and got back on the horses, and he started us out on a trot. Or a TTR gait, which I firmly decided stood for torture the rider. I figured that might catch on better, where torture the rider was just too much of a mouthful.
Regardless. The man was obviously evil. Either that, or he was warming up the horses’ muscles before he made them run…
I sent out another telepathic sweep with my mind, this time I felt six people up ahead and off the road a bit to the right. Probably in that copse of trees by the road. I checked their minds, not deeply, just their surface thoughts in the public part of their minds.
“Gerard, there are six people up ahead. They umm, aren’t friendly,” I added softly.
Gerard’s sharp nod of acceptance as he drew his sword warmed my heart. He didn’t hesitate, or think to question me, and had just taken me at my word. The problem of course was I didn’t know what to do, I’d talked myself into killing evil monster races, but these bandits were human. Bad humans who would no doubt take all our stuff, kill Gerard, and probably tie me up and use me for their own satisfaction until I expired.
I’d rather die with Gerard, but of course, none of that would happen. Because none of them even had magic, and were no match for either of us, much less the two of us together. The problem though is despite being very bad men, they were human. Perhaps monsters, but human ones, and I wasn’t sure if I could kill them. Maybe I could just knock them out, and we could turn them in to the guards in Greycliff?
The six men walked out into the road in leather armor. Two stood in front with swords, the other four were ten feet further back, and had arrows knocked and pointed toward us, if not drawn yet.
One of the men in front said in a loud menacing voice, “Stop, do what I say and you might even live.”
Gerard didn’t stop but brandished his sword and picked up the horse’s pace.
The men in the back pulled back the strings on their bows, and I hit them with a psychic punch of sorts. Much like I’d send a thought telepathically, but doing it in such a way that overloaded their minds. The arrows went wild as the four men’s eyes rolled up into their heads and they fell back. I supposed I could have punched them with telekinesis as well, but I might have hurt them more than I’d meant to that way.
Plus, it might not have worked at all, I was really conflicted about hurting these men, despite what they were. They were bad, they would rape me given half the chance and take all of our stuff, and kill Gerard. But as humans they had hopes and dreams as well, they had family they loved, and who loved them.
Then Gerard was there, and the leader blocked his first attack, but Gerard slapped the sword away hard, and the leader couldn’t get his sword back in time, and found his throat cut ear to ear.
The second man seeing the leader die, and the archers on the ground, started to run. Gerard pulled a dagger from his waist and threw it, and the man cried out and fell on his face as the dagger speared into the center of his back.
I watched rather shocked at the level of violence, as Gerard jumped off his horse, and killed the four men that I’d knocked out with a grim look on his face. I choked on bile, got off Stormy, and started to throw up on the side of the road.
When I regained my composure I yelled, “Why did you do that? I knocked them out to take them to the city guard, not to kill them as they slept!”
He looked confused, “I am a paladin of Ictia, I also work for the crown of Trelin. It would have been my job to judge them anyway, if there were no others present to do so. They attacked us, a representative of the kingdom, and would have raped you and then slit your throat. These were evil men.”
I felt a little dizzy, and gulped for air as I realized I’d stopped breathing. Everything he had said was right and true. I should have just killed them myself, there were no super heroes or normal cops on this world. Bandits were put down by those they attacked, or the ones attacked were killed. Gerard, a paladin, was cop, jury, judge, and executioner all rolled up in one besides.
Eventually the king might send someone out, but by then it would be far too late for the victims. But right now I didn’t care about that, I was just shocked by the death, and how common it was on this world. The men had surely deserved it, but I hated to be the one that helped deliver it.
“I’ve never had to kill anyone in my eighteen years until I arrived on this world. Now I’ve killed monsters, and assisted in killing humans. I hate this place,” I half screamed and half cried out.
Gerard’s face grew stony at my words, but then his eyes softened as he studied me. He walked over and held me. The implacable man who’d just killed so easily, held me like I was precious glass and patted my back. I hated myself as I fell against him and cried. This world was too much for me, I grew up in a sanitized one, where supervillains were a pain in the ass and stole things, but for the most part, the true killers and murderers were rare on my world.
It was only when I’d felt things shift with my empathy, and felt very vulnerable in his arms that I backed away. I may not have been reading his mind any longer, but through my empathy I could feel his tender protective feelings change to something a bit more ardent. I think I stepped away because I felt about the same way, and it confused me. I was leaving, and I wanted Anthony, not Gerard. I certainly didn’t want to stay here in a world of evil monsters and death.
Much less, fall for some handsome muscular guy with a glowing sword and a soft spot for me.
I shook my head. I was such an idiot.
“I suppose we should go, I’m sorry for what I said, you didn’t do anything wrong,” I apologized in a strained voice. I think I might have still been in shock.
He said softly, “The first time wasn’t easy for me either, and you still haven’t really done it. It changes you, even if it’s just and right, taking a life I mean. It helps to know the next person that rides through here won’t be killed, or raped, or the one after them.”
I nodded and wiped my eyes, “Thank you,” I said in a soft voice, though I wasn’t quite sure why I was thanking him. We took the time to take care of the bodies, and ironically, to claim what had been theirs. Then we got back on the horses and moved on.
I caught myself staring at him often for the rest of the ride. Not thinking about anything specific, except for the way he’d made me feel when I was in his arms. I wondered what it would have been like if I’d stayed there longer, would he have kissed me? Would I have kissed him back?
Would I have allowed things to go even further than that?
One thing was for sure, I was a total mess in this world. Not th
e confident young woman I’d thought myself to be. I blushed a little at the idea of kissing Gerard, and perhaps more than that. I wasn’t a virgin, but I also didn’t sleep around. I’d only been with one guy before now, which was why I thought this crazy desire of mine to be beyond strange.
Maybe it was the adrenaline, and tears. Or the fact that I was attracted to him, and I was going away soon. This world was so different, that it almost didn’t feel real at times. So what if I did things I wouldn’t normally do, it didn’t count right? Add the death, magic, and adrenaline from the recent dangers, to that feeling of unreality, and maybe that’s why my normal inhibitions seemed to be on vacation.
Of course, that was ridiculous, what I did here did count, it was the reason I’d stepped away, but at the same time I was still tempted. I’d have to watch myself…
Chapter 7
I noticed the escarpment first, a long jagged cliff of gray stone that seemed to run east and west as far as I could see. A short time later, the town of Greycliff came into view, positioned at the bottom of the cliff by a small trail that zig zagged up the cliff face. The trail up the side looked to be carved out of the rock itself, and I guessed it had probably been done by magic.
As we got closer I could see Greycliff looked remarkably like Southwater, except the walls weren’t quite as high, they were only about ten feet tall. There were superficial differences, the color of the stones were slightly darker here, and the stores weren’t in the same places, I just meant the general layout of the town was the same.
Gerard seemed to notice me staring because he said, “There are very little raids this far north as I’ve said. The walls are a bit smaller. The next village, Linmoor, which is a small city really, doesn’t even have a wall and is much safer than the edges of the kingdom.”
I smiled, “So does Magehaven not have a palisade then?”
Gerard shook his head, “Actually, Magehaven is a bastion if we’re ever invaded, it has high and thick stone walls around the whole city, and even larger ones around the palace itself. It’s been hundreds of years since the monsters of Chilik, or the northern kingdom of Jendas, has spent themselves against those walls.”
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