Chapter 94: Tater Snakes

I dropped down the deck and Breth was sitting having tea with two of his wives. If I remembered right, these were the wives doing prep, Dare, and Po, in their traditional Christmas colors of red and green. Breth pulled out a chair for me beside him and beckoned for me to sit down with a pat on the chair seat.

"Hyde! What pleasure do I owe a visit from our humble leader? Come sit down, Mindi and Kari are just finishing off the cooking for the morning meal. They will be up soon, but come join us and have a cup of Menja!"

"Thanks, Breth. Good morning Po and Dare, how is life treating you now? Compared to before, and this isn't to imply that the way you were living before was bad, but I am just curious."

"Safe"

Both women said the one word together and then stopped speaking, thinking one had talked over the other. The two women looked at each other and laughed, which was contagious, making both me and Breth join in. Once we all settled, Po spoke first.

"We don't have to worry about our children being stolen, it was hard to live in fear, but now…"

"...We have a safe place to sleep and raise our children. Breth, you know that we, as you wives, mean you no disrespect when we say this, but that you from the deepest part of our hearts for keeping all of us safe and under your protection."

"Disrespect? Ha! I of all people know this man's worth! I have watched you and waited for the first while, thinking this must all be some sort of trick and after a while, the honey would wear off, but it just didn't. You have already put your life on the line to prevent any of us from having to get hurt. No matter what the world has sent at you, Hyde, you are the strongest person I have ever met, even before your abilities. People will naturally follow you because you don't know how to back down or what giving up looks like."

Oof, that last part hit me like a bag full of bricks, almost causing me to lose my composer. I had been so ready to give up before this world, now...maybe I once was lacking in will or motivation, but now I had a massive family to protect and a world to same. Breth was wrong, but that didn't matter; ya I know what giving up looks like but I'll never give up now that I have something worth fighting for!

Luckily, Kari and Mindi both showed up with three large platters, Kari held the 2 largest on and she went to the table first, setting them down and removing the lid. One thing I have noticed about this world, they don't put labels on the meals they eat. Kari revealed...fish? I think? I was white but the fillets were huge, where the hell did they catch this? 

Kari laughed at my expression as Mandi came around and set the other bowl down, revealing tubers, AKA Tater Snakes. These aren't bad, and Kari's last dish had bread on it. Okay, what the fuck is this? When did you ever put the three items on a plate together?

"Mash you tubers and then put it on the bread with some Malamaki fish, then you will see!"

At Mandi's insistent urging, I tried it out, but It was taters and fish on bread. The others were scarfing it down with fervor like it was something stolen from the gods and must be disposed of with all haste! I forced mine down with three full cups of Menja, which left me nearly vibrating. This tea was high powered shit, and I started to feel the need to jump up and down and maybe run a lap or forty. 

"SorryBrethIneedtogoburnofsomeofthisenergybeforeIexplode!"

I didn't give him a chance to say anything and I waved goodbye as I jumped off the side of the top deck. I lit my mind ablaze and I had to reduce my output. I would have my face ripped off, and the heat shield wouldn't be much either, just be filling me full of hot air, hehe. Oh boy I had way too much energy, but then I decided that I knew a place I could go to burn off some energy, but I went back to my House-Wagon and landed on my plate. 

I could see Wendy, Krya, Kalita, and Arenttia sitting at the table. I rushed over with a large smile, but all the girls looked worried. 

"Hyde, are you okay? Your smiles, kind of crazy, are you feeling alright?"

I could hear the concern in Kalita's voice so I tried to reply, but the words just came out in a rush. They didn't seem to understand anything I said except for when I emphasized the Menja I have drank. Suddenly, the girls instantly relaxed, all the tension melted away.

"Ahh, well, umm, what did you want to do to burn off some of that energy?"

Kalita's seeming innocent question, but it made my heart pound in a different way and time slowed down. Oh fuck yeah that's what I wanted to do, but that's not what I said.

"Who wants to come to help me get our transportation ready to go? I need to find Greckcain too!"

I pushed the words out in the calmest manner I could, and the girls all seemed to understand what I said, but none of them moved.

"Hm, no, that sounds like a job for you, while we will take care of everything else! And Greckcain is at the blacksmith shop."

Well, fine then! I pulled down one of my eyes and then stuck my tongue out at them. I would go enlist my two wives in the new unfinished flying house. Maybe flying house wasn't the best name, but I would figure out a new one later. For now, I waved goodbye and ran to the steel landing disc, and jumped into the air!