Chapter 152: Reunion

Chapter 152: Reunion

Along the road to Gadobhra, a simple shepherd ran. He passed by the herds of sedge beasts in the fields. A few of the bulls raised their voices in greeting, and the cows bowed their heads in respect. The shepherd cared for their young, and brought the tasty salt blocks. He was an important part of their lives

On a small pond, a flock of ducks paused in their feeding as the shepherd ran by. They quickly held a meeting, deciding that two of their number would stay to keep watch, while the others would take wing and seek out the great flocks to spread the word of his return.

Oblivious to this, and only focused on the string that pulled on his heart, the shepherd entered the ancient city and ran to the stockyards. The pale creatures of the crypts stayed hidden, not wanting to challenge him during the daylight. In the Beastwoods, predators shouted challenges while prey beasts took note of his passing and stayed hidden.

Coming to the stockyards he found a headstone with his name upon it, and a golden chest. He ignored the chest and began to dig. There, in the trampled muddy ground, in a hole dug with his claws he unearthed a large cocoon buried there.

"Time to wake up, silly little bug."

The layers of silk revealed a battered butterfly with cracked and broken wings. Go away! I'm ugly and broken and I got you killed and you had to .......Wait! How the hell are you back so soon?>

Squirmie grabbed hold of Rolly, holding him tightly with six razor talons that bit into his skin. Rolly stroked the butterfly's barbed fur and smoothed out its wings, burning much of his stamina to heal them.

"Nope. I took a different route. I had a choice and started at the top. Tartarus isn't bad when you can go downhill instead of climbing up. Met some really nice folk there."

"They tried, but I got some good advice from The Manticore. I stayed on the far side of the path, didn't look over, and kept running. They gave up chasing me as I got further down."

"Before I tell you the rest, I have a surprise for you. It's a present from Great-Great-Great- Grandmother."

Hades closed his eyes as his headache started to return. "Let me guess? The shepherd? That one likes monsters a little too much. I take it that we now have one of the special mortals in our care lost in Tartarus, being slain over and over as he tries to find his way out?"

"Uh, no sir. To be honest, he did very well. He humbled and befriended The Manticore and learned much from him. All of the puppies are asking when he will be back, and only the Hive Queen is demanding his soul be turned over to her. He walked right by, totally ignoring her. She's pissed that a mortal would treat her that way."

"And?" Hades toyed with another glass of ambrosia.

"And what, Lord Hades?"

"And what else did he do. Where is he, and what has happened. Your bones are clinking together. You do that when you’re nervous."

Charon picked up a large glass of fresh squeezed juice, tossed out the juice, and refilled it with ambrosia. He tossed back half of it, then sat opposite Hades, and bowed his head.

"He went all the way down to the end of the path and had a lovely talk with the two at the bottom. He received a Heroes’ gift, and then left for home. You'll see that his name has been added to the list of Heroes who completed their journeys."

Hades drank down his own glass. "I'm sure nothing happened."

Charon agreed, and drank down the rest of his large glass. "Nothing at all. I'll get back to work, the next boatload is ready to go."

Hades gestured and the boatman disappeared.

Hades summoned a file with the details of the new Hero's life. "Interesting. He's a skilled tax advisor as well? No wonder he didn't fear Tartarus. I'll have to keep an eye on this one. Funny, I thought the Butcher would be the troublemaker of the group."