Book Two Chapter Twenty: Air Reward

Book Two Chapter Twenty: Air Reward

It took a fair amount of time for the Chosen One to get the rest of the party to stop telling him which spell was best for him, and start theorising on what was best for them.

Sewer Bard was the first to really get it.

If two others is what you require, then my preference would be to acquire... the spell of the potion vial, he said. He seemed oddly pleased with his rhyme.

I would be able to put the spell to much better use, Definitely Bad Guy interrupted scathingly. You wouldnt be able to cast any offensive magic.

You are wrong, Sewer Bard replied with uncharacteristic calm.

Well, if it were what I wanted, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady pondered, ignoring the two men glaring at each other. It would be to give my abilities a little more bite.

My sweet Hunter, you could slay the enemy with but a flash of your eyes, Sewer Bard abruptly abandoned his argument with Definitely Bad Guy to turn to Sexy Screamy Spider Lady and lay a hand over his chest. As you slay my own heart with every flash of your eyes.

The arachnid shot him a provocative look through all her eyes. Even the childrens screaming faces stitched to her sides tried to smoulder. They werent very successful; they just looked like they needed to use the bathroom.

Did did they need to use the bathroom, Qube wondered. Or even eat? They seemed to reflect how Sexy Screamy Spider Lady was feeling at all times rather than independent beings, so they were probably just incorporated into her ecosystem and didnt need any individual sustenance. Like limbs. Either way, it was clearly a private bodily function that was none of her business!

Qube found life much less stressful when she didnt try to figure out the biology of her friend.

Your heart is not a target of mine, although Ill collect it anyway, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady continued to flirt with Sewer Bard. At least, thats what Qube assumed she was doing, given how pleased Sewer Bard seemed by her response.

The Chosen One had sat down on one of the benches in the arena, his head in his hands.

Why did I ask? he muttered to himself. Its been half an hour of nonsense Why did I ever ask?

I think you did the right thing! Qube chirruped, sitting next to him.

You always think that, the Chosen One replied dismissively.

Oh, no, you do lots of things wrong, she replied, causing him to rock back and stare at her. Thats why you need me! To help you do the right thing!

So should I let them play this out, or just make a choice, or ask you to make a choice, or what? he asked, watching her with interest.

Qube pondered this deeply.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

I think you let them make the choice, she decided, and nodded emphatically. Then, if its the wrong choice, you just tell them why its wrong. That way theyll know you respect them!

Is that how you show respect? the Chosen One mused.

More so than asking their opinions and then not letting them make a decision, Qube replied with surprising firmness. The Chosen One, after watching her for a beat or two longer than was strictly comfortable, nodded.

Okay. Hey, you lot, he said to the rest of the still-debating group. Or, well, to the now competitively flirting couple, an increasingly angry Mage, and Squiggles, who was happily running around them all in circles. Youve got ten minutes to make a decision. Weve got a world to save!

Qube suppressed the urge to wonder where this urgency had been when hed decided to open every barrel of fish in the fishing village. Or go to every single shop. Or build things out of arrows. While there was a possibility there were shades of deeper importance to those particular deeds, she suspected that their sudden urgency was because the Chosen One was bored. She could see similar looks of disbelief cross her friends faces.

Or maybe it was because she had wasted so much time debating with the lion, an insidious part of her mind whispered. If shed been better, they wouldnt be so behind schedule.

Id also like to see how the lion is doing, she added out loud. Make sure he is doing well and the others havent hurt him somehow.

This seemed to do the trick. The others all nodded their agreement, before plunging into actual strategy discussion.

We have decided, Noble Patron, Sewer Bard said, stepping in front of the other two. We have decided that our Fair Healer shall have the potion vial, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady to take the sword, and yourself to have the carrot.

Qubes first response was of elation she was going to get another spell! But then reality set in.

You can, the Chosen One replied with near-absolute certainty. Try it. Look, Ill make you a deal. If you can fly, you can fit through that hole. Okay?

The lion, now looking even more confused than ever, jumped off the ground and flew.

He flew! Straight up, sure, and then zoomed directly to the hole that was far too small for him and then

he fit right through it. One minute there was a lion on one side, the next he was gone. Qubes eyes watered as she tried to unravel what had just happened. Then

he flew back out of the hole. He raced around the sky, his body in the same streamlined form that hed used to zip around the arena, and he was laughing, laughing at the sheer joy of flying, his body spinning as he flipped onto his back, warming his belly in the sunlight, non-existent wings scooping up white fluffy clouds as he gently returned to the ground.

He ran to the Chosen One and reared up, throwing his massive paws onto the mans shoulders. The Hero buckled under the sudden weight. The lion licked him, covering his whole face in saliva, before bounding over the Qube. She braced herself, but was bowled over as the lion tumbled her to the ground, rubbing his face with hers and purring madly.

Thank you, he rasped, as she giggled from his tickling whiskers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

He galloped back to his two families, his tail whirling like a windmill, as the two clans continued to order him to kill the other side. There had to be some way she could stop them from fighting with each other!

As Qube was helped to her feet by the others, however, she realised something about the two arguing groups.

Both of them were calling their lion one of their own.

Sure, it was with the intent of getting him to kill the other side, but it meant that, even though he still had the same physical appearance as before, they accepted him as a member of their family. She didnt know why maybe it was because he could fly now, or they had somehow come to their senses about his abilities, or who even knows what the important thing was that they accepted him. Wholeheartedly, without her even needing to say anything, or the Chosen One to threaten them.

Qube, overcome with emotion, clasped her hands over her heart.

Oh Chosen One, she said, her voice quivering with emotion. Its so beautiful! Theyve taken him back!

The Chosen One looked at her out of the side of his eyes.

Is that is that what you think is happening here? he asked her.

Sure, itll take them a little while to overcome their differences, but look! Both sides are claiming him as their child! Oh I just knew that he didnt need to change for them to love him!

I mean, he did change a bit, the Chosen One pointed out.

The flying, yes, that was a minor change, Qube conceded. But his fundamental self was in no way affected.

And the fitting through the hole stuff? the Chosen One asked, mildly curious.

I would like to know how you figured that out, Qube admitted. But I suspect it had to do with him having always had the heart of a Flitter Folk.

Yup, thats it, the Chosen One said in a stifled tone. Thats exactly it. Mystery solved. Okay. Time to go get our reward and not think about this any more.

As they approached the two sides Qube could already see the lion trying to reconcile them to each other. He was already healing the breach between them! she thought with pride.

Okay, gave you back your kid, reward please, the Chosen One said. Quickly.

As promised, the griffin leader said and, with a swish of his tail, a stormy gem appeared in front of him. Black clouds swirled within it, lightning strikes lighting it up from within. Next to it was a fan made of fur and feathers. This gem, though not as beautiful as us, will assist this puny human to defeat the unworthy ruler. And this fan, made of our sheddings, will clear away any fog. You must be honoured.

Gross, the Chosen One said flatly as he accepted the fan and gem.

Our reward! Gem help! Fan help! the Flitter Folk burst out into song, as a second gem appeared, and a fan made of quills and downy feathers appeared.

Thanks for not calling it your sheddings, the Chosen One said as he solemnly accepted their gifts.

And, with a final wave of farewell to the lion, a check for any other loot, and Squiggles and Qube safely stowed away, the group launched into the air and flew away.