Book 6: Chapter 49: The Ruins (4)

Book 6: Chapter 49: The Ruins (4)

Sen didnt bother to stand as he pulled a healing elixir from a storage ring and downed it. He just lay there for most of a minute, basking in the magnificent absence of people talking at him. Knowing it couldnt last, though, he pushed himself back up into a sitting position. Misty Peak and the spider were standing next to each other and staring at him. The fox woman looked stunned. The spider looked like, well, it mostly just looked like a spider that was staring at him. Sen wished again that the thing could speak. Even if it sounded creepy, it would still be better than the almost entirely one-sided version of communication they had at present. Sen glanced out over the ground that they had just covered.

It was a gruesome sight. There were devilish beast parts everywhere. Beyond that were the bodies of all the beasts hed killed by accident with his wind blade trick. And to make matters worse, it looked like a god had splashed a particularly viscous black paint over the entire scene. Im so glad no one was here to see all of that, thought Sen. Then again, there were two foxes present. I may live to hear some demented retelling of all this yet. Groaning, Sen dragged himself up to his feet. He gave the battlefield beyond the barrier one last grim look before turning his attention to the fox and the spider.

Are either of you hurt? he asked.

Silence.

Are you injured? Sen asked a bit more forcefully.

Silence.

Hey! shouted Sen.

That seemed to snap the pair out of some kind of stupor. Misty Peak flinched, while the spider scuttled back a step or two. The fox woman shook her head a few times as if trying to clear it before she settled a more focused on gaze on Sen.

What? she asked.

Are either of you hurt? Sen repeated.

No. Im fine, said Misty Peak.

Sen looked over at the spider, sighed, and said, Lift a leg once for yes and twice for no.

The spider promptly lifted a leg up and again. Sen nodded.

Then, lets get a little farther from the barrier. No point in announcing where we went when the horde fills back in.

Misty Peak gave him a strange look. You think there are any left? Even after that weird bell thing you did.

Im certain of it.

Why?

Because it would make my life easier if there werent any left. So, the horde is absolutely not completely gone and will be waiting for us when its time to leave.

Oh, the time for that particular invitation was back at the first bedroom we came across. For someone with impeccable timing in battle, your social timing is terrible.

Sen snorted, which just made the glare intensify. Your grandfather made the same observation about my social skills not that long ago, but thats not what I was getting at. Seriously, come with me.

Sen went into the building and, after a long enough pause to let Sen know that he wasnt in charge of her, Misty Peak followed. Sen gestured around the place. The fox eyed the room they were in, which wasnt appreciably different from the common areas of the last few houses theyd been in during the last hour. She glanced around the room before directing an unimpressed look his way.

Yes, youve discovered the magic of walls. They do indeed make rooms. Congratulations.

Amusing. So, answer me this. Why is all of the furniture still here in all of these houses? I mean, I can understand an odd piece here or there if the temple or city dwindled over the centuries. But furniture isnt cheap. People take it with them when they leave. Ive been on the roads enough to see it happen.

Misty Peak looked around again, and it was her turn to frown. He could see it on her face as she mentally reviewed the other homes theyd gone into. Her eyes focused again. Sen waited in the common area as the woman marched around the house from room to room. She vanished into what Sen suspected was the kitchen and came back holding a wok. She was staring at the pan like it was keeping secrets from her and she wanted to shake them free from the stubborn metal. She held the pan up and flicked the bottom with a finger. It gave off the dull clang of thick metal being struck.

This is the kind of thing that mortals pass down, she said. You could get another fifty years of service out of something like this.

Sen walked over and cycled for metal. He let his qi settle into the pan. It was extremely well made with almost no flaws. He suspected that Misty Peak had the right of it.

It seems that way. So, why is it still here?

Misty Peak gave the wok another hard look before she gave him a helpless look.

Ill admit that its strange. Very strange. Annoyingly strange. Its also not what were here for.

Sen gave her a long look. Its certainly not what Im here for. Im not so sure about you. Why are you here? Maybe just as importantly, why didnt you just give your grandfather that toy of yours that let you come in here in the first place? Could have saved you, me, and that poor spider outside a lot of trouble.

You saw that? Didnt you have more important things to be paying attention to at the time than me?

You had just shed your disguise, however unintentionally. Plus, I was inside the barrier at that point. I was just enjoying the view.

She lifted an eyebrow. Oh, were you?

Stop fishing for compliments. You didnt answer my questions.

Oh fine. It wont work for him. It barely works for me, she said before she turned her head like she was trying to look through the wall. Come to think of it, why in the hells is that spider here?

Sen threw his hands in the air. I have no idea and didnt feel like spending three hours asking it yes or no questions to try and find out.