As we walk back through the shadowy blue forest, I keep a more vigilant eye on our surroundings. I’m not as jumpy as I had been before, as I’ve gained a newfound confidence from the simple fact that I have Koa with me now.

  “What’s that?” This seems like her fiftieth question since we set out from the stump a bit over thirty minutes ago.

  “That…” I glance in the direction our bond indicates she’s directing me to. “Is a squit. It’s like a cat, but with a bushy tail and large front teeth. They’re mostly harmless if you stay away from their tree, but very vicious if you wander too close.”

  Rather than get annoyed by her rapidfire curiosity, I smile as I answer her with a patient, loving tone. Delilah has no such qualms, though, as she mentally scowls.

  The fuzzy brown creature is standing on a branch of the nearest oak, its long, bushy tail swishing back and forth in irritation, most likely due to our presence. My assumption is quickly confirmed as it sharpens its retractable claws and glares at us. It follows that up with a chittering hiss.

  “What’s that?”

  This question elicits a small smile from me, as some of the things she seems to not know are common knowledge, but she seems aware of some more obscure facts, though not many.

  “That, my beautiful blade, is a mushroom. I’m not sure if it’s edible or not. I’m not an expert in botany. Mushrooms can be used to make potions and poisons. I actually know an alchemist that might be willing to buy them, but I’ve no clue how to go about safely harvesting them for him.”

  “I know what poison is, but what’s a potion? And what’s an alchemist?”

  Her inquisitive nature only serves to keep the smile growing on my face as I answer her.

  “Potions are drinks that have various effects. I know that some of them cure wounds, others cure illness. I’ve heard that some even help you focus, which is apparently really good for fights. There are many more, some I’ve heard of. But there are a lot of potions out there, so I only know a drop in the bucket.”

  I pause to think of the best way to answer her second question.

  “An alchemist is a person with a skill that allows them to brew potions or poisons. There’s probably other things they do, but I’m not an expert.”

  “Hum de dum, do do do do.”

  Koa’s sudden humming puts a warm smile on my face, bringing with it a sense of serenity that I haven’t felt in what feels like forever. I find myself tapping along with her humming as she continues until we reach about 100 yards from the eastern gate of the city.

  “Koa, I hate to interrupt, but I need to ask you a question.”

  “Hmm? It’s okay, Father. What is it?”

  “So… I’m currently tied up with a group of people that aren’t very nice. If they see you, they will take you from me. When they find out I can just summon you back to me, they will most likely… hurt me very badly. I have a way I can hide you, but I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

  “Oh! Your inventory? That’s okay! I’ll still have the ability to talk to you, and Father’s Call will work just fine! Plus, if you want to, you can share your sight and hearing with me! So, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me, Father, I’ll be okay! It’s better than you being killed!”

  Her tone is full of trust and love, calming my racing heart and quashing my anxieties.

  Oh yeah, I should have guessed that she’d already know what killing is. She’s a weapon, and we already killed that hoglin.

  “That is good to hear, I wouldn’t be comfortable hiding you in there if you aren’t okay with it.”

  I smile gingerly as I summon Inventory C, the only one that has room aside from the one that the evil feeling parcel is in, which I wouldn’t want to have anywhere near her. Plus, if Hadrix happened to see her when I was delivering his package, that wouldn’t be good.

  “There’s a bit of meat and other hoglin parts stored in there, is that okay?”

  I’m a bit hesitant, as I know that I wouldn’t want to sit in a box that has raw meat in it.

  “Father, if you remember, I was stuck into the eye of that hoglin, piercing straight through to its brain.”

  “Oh yeah… sorry about that…”

  “It’s okay! I know my purpose and I’m happy to fulfill it to the best of my abilities! There’s no reason for you to apologize. I’m satisfied, so you shouldn’t worry about it!” I register her inculcation clearly, gracefully accepting her words at face value.

  She’s too innocent to lie for my sake, so she really has no issue with any of this. I shake my head, not really getting it, but it’s her choice. I made sure of that.

  “Thank you for being so understanding.” As I say this, I hug her to my chest. “I promise I’ll take you out soon. Maybe we’ll go hoglin hunting on my free days!” Even though she doesn’t seem to need any reassurances, I offer them either way.

  “Okay, Father!”

  I place Koa into the box, where she once again begins humming. I dismiss the inventory before I begin walking away.

  “Koa? Can you still hear me?”

  I ask her this question not because I don’t believe, but because I feel worried about her. I would feel so lonely in a dark box.

  “Of course, Father! It’s just as I said it would be!”

  It seems I was worried over nothing. That’s a huge relief.

  I don’t share that thought as I ask a more pressing query instead.

  “Okay, good. How do I share my senses with you?”

  Delilah scoffs, shaking her little head in disappointment.

  “Human… How do you think you’d go about sharing senses through a bond that you already easily share thoughts through? Hmm?”

  I nearly facepalm, but I stop myself before Delilah gets to have that satisfaction.

  Smug little… ugh!

  “Sure, makes sense. No pun intended. Let me just… aha! There we go!”

  “Human, you sure do make a lot of ‘unintended’ puns… are you sure you’re not doing that on purpose?”

  “Koa, is that working?” I change the subject, deflecting the question.

  “Yes, it’s working! Thank you, Father!”

  “Good, let’s get back into the city before it’s too late to finish the quest. Wouldn’t want to get caught out here when the gates close. Delilah, what time is it?”

  “I am not a clock, Human. Look skyward and see for yourself, you petless monster.”

  It’s at this moment that I realize I had indeed not pet her for the entire walk back, so I stoop down and gently stroke her from head to tail, following that up with a few minutes of scratching behind her ears.

  “Hey, pretty kitty. I’m sorry I haven’t been paying enough attention to you. You deserve more pets. How about we don’t count this as my ‘thank you pets,’ hmm? I’ll pet you more when we get back to the shed, okay? For now, could you, pretty please, tell me the time?

  The rumble box flops to her side, giving me full view of her stomach. “Pet my belly?”

  “Ha! No way, demon child. I learned my lesson on that one the first time!”

  A feeling of amusement crosses over our bond that only increases with her next statement.

  “It’s been seven hours and thirteen minutes since you accepted the task.”

  Fuck! Over seven hours?! Where did all that time go? I get times flies when you’re nearly killed by enormous green wild livestock…

  “Shanaia’s shits! We need to hurry!”

  The swear leaves my mouth unbidden as the realization that I’ve taken way too long to get to this point flashes through my mind.

  This is bad, this is very bad!

  “Why do you sound happy about this?! This is a major problem!”

  “It’s a problem, Human. It’s not my problem. It’s yours and yours alone.”

  I send waves of irritation through the bond as I start sprinting toward the city, knowing that 45 minutes is cutting it closer than I’d like.

  She’s such a conniving little stitch in my side. I don’t even know why I put up with her antics!

  “It’s because you love me.”

  I ignore her blatant mind reading as I continue to run wildly toward the wall.

  “We will definitely be having a talk about this later!”

  “Will we, Human? Will we?”

  I sigh in exasperation, which seems to be a common theme when conversing with this cat, but I internally acknowledge that she’s probably right. It doesn’t take long for me to make it to the gate, but the guards waylay me before I can pass through into the town beyond.

  “Whoa, boyyo! What’s the rush?” The left guard places his hand on my shoulder, pulling me to an almost painful stop. His voice isn’t deep, nor is it a high pitch. The rotund man smiles. It isn’t a warm, welcoming smile. It’s the smile of someone who’s up to no good.

  “Yeah! You need to pay the visitor’s tax!” His lanky partner has a very nasal voice that grates on the ears.

  Fucking humans!

  “But… I live here…?”

  My argument falls on deaf ears, as the guards’ smiles widen, gleaming in a gap-toothed grin as they relish my precarious predicament.

  “Oh, do ya? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before, so we ‘ave no way of knowin’, do we? So pay up, or turn around.” The first guard’s tone has an ominous sense of finality.

  “Give us a bronze ring, boy. Now!” The lanky guard isn’t as intimidating, but that’s not the main issue.

  I think for a moment, remembering the cord I had completely forgotten about when making the deal with Lexi.

  I kind of feel like I lied to her, but that aside, this paltry amount isn’t enough!

  “I… I only have 3 copper…” My voice has a slight tremor to it.

  I can’t fail this quest!

  “Well then. I guess you ought ta be turnin’ ‘round then. ‘less ya got somethin’ in trade of equal or greater value… but it doesn’t look like ya ‘ave anythin’ on ya.” As the words leave the guard’s mouth, my face brightens!

  Yes! That’s perfect!

  “Hold on! I’ve got something in my skill!”

  I summon Inventory A, cursing the long wait time. As soon as it’s summoned, I open it. I pull out two hoglin chops, which are worth at least a couple of bronze rings apiece.

  This is perfect!

  The guards look down into the box with greedy eyes and sinister grins. “Nah, boyyo. We’ll be ‘avin all of it.” The big one’s grin widens.

  I watch them with horror as they try to pick up the cuts of meat, only to pass right through the box and all. They draw their cudgels, brandishing them threateningly. The big one takes a single menacing step toward me.

  “Ya’ better be givin’ us the meat, boy, or else.”

  “Yeah! Give us the meat!”

  “O… okay! Where… where should I put it?”

  “Just you let us worry about that!” Lanky snaps his fingers and the two chops I’m holding fly into the air.

  I begin to pull out all of the cuts, watching forlornly as the several tin rings worth of meat are telekinetically swiped one at a time.

  “Atta boy! Thank ya fer yer generous donation! The other guards will love to buy some of this from us!” Tough guys voice sounds incredibly pleased with himself as he shoos me through the gate.

  I take off at a run “Delilah, how much time do we have?” The panic in my tone is clearly evident as my anxiety spikes to previously unreached levels.

  “34 minutes and 27 seconds!”

  “Fuck!” I run faster, hoping I’ll make it in time.

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