It was a three-day walk to Morya and the time was spent well enough. Cricket began to get to know the twenty remaining Wolves, with everything that entailed, for better and for worse. The entire band could have memorized the explanation she'd had to give Bolvin at least five times a day; that bonds couldn't be forced and she wasn't interested in trying. She was beginning to break down against Sophia's unrelenting and rather determined attempts at forging a sincere friendship, though Sophia's continued focus on their status as 'soulmates' continued to receive its usual bland if not doubtful expression, and Cricket all but haunted Abel's shadow. Never being too far from his side unless a situation absolutely required it.
During the journey, Abel was relatively quiet in comparison to the previous days he had spent with Cricket. Between the sharp gazes he gave to those who asked Cricket one too many questions or the repetitive explanations she had to give to almost everyone, he was blunt yet calm with his few words in telling them to eventually back off. Cricket though, would be able to tell that his frustrations were with something else. And any questions that were brought up to him regarding how he was feeling or anything equivalent had been met with dismissal or a change in topic.
The walk to Morya gave no hint of what their arrival in Morya looked like. They were greeted with what must have been the entirety of the capital city, perhaps even more if people had traveled to witness their appearance. The whole of Morya seemed ready and eager to meet the Wolves at the gates. And guards had already been prepared to keep the street clear for them to reach the castle nestled in the center of the city. It was basically a parade to the capital building. Trumpets played, confetti fell, and flower petals seemed to appear out of nowhere. People pushed forward at all sides along the street--waving and cheering on the twenty remaining wolves. People looked on from every window and rooftop, excited to see what were clearly turning into legends.
Morya had been losing the war against Nadia. The Wolves were clearly a symbol that all was not lost; far from it. And if the rumors were true about a stray queen? All the more reason to have a childish level of enthusiasm for the band of warriors.
Some of the members of the wolves responded to this differently than others. Avarra seemed more irritated by the attention than anything else, and she kept her eyes on the prize, keeping pace as they were led towards the capital, where the real work would undoubtedly begin.
"Don't get distracted. They'll love you today, but they'll hate us tomorrow just as easily." She advised the younger members of their party.
Bolvin loved it. He shook the hands of people who passed by, posed for any lady or small child who might benefit from it, and waved to the people in the crowds. "I could get used to this!" He crowed, laughing and blowing a kiss to a few young ladies hanging off a balcony.
Cricket did not like this. Cricket didn't trust it, and if she kept close to Abel normally, she was virtually on top of him now as she eyed the crowds with obvious mistrust.
"It looks different from Nadia." Is the only thing of significance she had on offer.
Never before had he seen a crowd so large as he came through the city gates. Even though The Band of Wolves lost many of their members and was forced to retreat, they had the support of Morya and their people. And Thorne, standing tall as the band's leader, had waved and smiled with charisma and kindness.
Velstadt, like Bolvin, thrived with the attention. Reaching for women's hands and kissing them as he and the rest of the wolves steadily marched towards the cleared streets. To Velstadt, this is everything that he has ever wanted. The status of a hero, the attention of those who adored him. And soon enough, the gold to buy anything and anyone he wanted. This was just a slice, a taste of his dream.
Sophia was nervous. Almost shaking from the noise and cheers. Her awkward smile at the men who tried to woo her, left her hiding alternatively between Cricket, Bolvin, and Abel.
And then there was Abel, walking with complete disinterest. His mind was still occupied, stoic expression holding hints of melancholy. He didn't care for any of it. The attention and status just didn't mean anything to him at all. His eyes were on Thorne eventually, watching him bring cheer and joy to both the crowd and wolves around him. Soon enough, Abel could feel Cricket's presence much more than usual. His head turned to face her, reading her expression and the need to be closer as a sign that she disliked what was happening.
"Nadia is much larger, I'm sure," Abel responded. "I haven't been here much but it seems we've gained a lot more renown since the last time I visited."
"It's not that it's larger... it's that it's...different."
Cricket didn't exactly have the words to describe it. But Morya was....cleaner than Nadia. Nadia may have had immense wealth and power, but it was, at its heart, a nation built on war. All of its resources were spent on the war effort, on pummeling its enemies into the ground. There was magic thanks to its use of queens, to be sure--but the benefits of that were reserved for the privileged few, and for the war front. Both the macro and micro political and environmental impact of this were beyond Cricket's comprehension or vocabulary; different was the best word she had to offer as a means of explanation.
Abel's blue eyes looked over at some waving women, a few men on the sides trying to get Cricket's attention.
"Convivial bunch. If Thorne's plan goes through, I know there will be another celebrating event of some kind that we'll have to partake in."
Cricket made a point not to pay attention to any of the men trying to get her attention, keeping her focus on Abel, and then on Thorne as they reached the front of the castle and the soldiers that awaited them there.
A tall, well-built knight was seen up there. He donned bright white and gold armor with a large cape that stretched down to his ankles. His hair was long and blonde while his face was chiseled and elegant. He looked more like a prince than a knight or soldier. Thorne smiled wildly as they approached, and a brotherly embrace was shared between the two.
"That's the lead general of Morya. I knew Thorne had deep ties to this place but...I had no idea he was that close with someone."
Abel caught the general looking over to both him and Cricket, the man deeply interested.
"Rumor has it that he holds quite a lot of power in Morya. Sophia added. "And they say his innate ability is incredibly powerful. Able to see the future!"
"Hm." Abel's curiosity had sparked but he decided not to draw more attention to himself and Cricket by speaking with him.
Eventually, the wolves made it just outside the large castle, a large courtyard where their parade had come to an end. Thorne and the general stood on the elevated platform, where the wolves and a portion of the public could see and hear.
"Morya and its people have achieved a great victory!" The crowd erupted with cheers.
A lie. Abel thought.
"Nadia, a kingdom of unlimited strength, was steadily forced out of their western defenses over the course of the week. The Band of Wolves has continued to prove themselves in the field, a total of five of Nadia's strongholds have fallen within the week. Five!"
The crowd once again cheered for the group, though it wasn't without the grim news of the fallen.
"It wasn't without loss. Many of Morya's men have sacrificed themselves for our city, as well as many wolves who have shown the selfless need to defend us and our city. But it is because of their sacrifice that we can move on to the next step. None of them will be forgotten. They are heroes."
Cricket whispered. "I didn't know Morya had a queen. I mean, I knew it had a Queen, but, you know, a queen." But then Nadia did like to keep its citizens feeling as though the world outside its walls was empty of magic and civilization. It had her looking at the Innate general as he gave his speech with an uncharacteristically unguarded curiosity.
As the general spoke, small pouches were handed to each member of the band by royal guards whose armor resembled that of their general.
"We will not bow our heads to Nadia and their forces. This is our land! Our birthright! And we have shown Nadia that we absolutely will not give our pride and land without giving them the hardest fight they will possibly have! For Morya! And for her people!"
"For Morya and her people!" The crowd repeated, a burst of courage and cheers that roared throughout the city streets and skies.
Abel took his pouch, opening it slightly to see a hefty amount of gold within it. Cricket, despite being the newest member who hadn't participated in the band's missions, had also received one. Cricket accepted the small pouch with no small amount of surprise, and after examining its contents, retied it with an elaborate and complex knot before slipping it into her pocket.
Thorne raised a hand to the band, letting them know that they were dismissed and free to venture out into the city.
Seeing that, Abel turned to Cricket and smiled faintly. "Looks like we're dismissed." It was nice for a change, especially after the past three days, that they could split off from the wolves and do what they liked with their coin.
"Then let's go buy something." This would be the first opportunity she and Abel had where they could actually be alone. Considering the last time that had happened, they'd forged a bond, it was a long time coming.
There was much to discuss.
Abel nodded and led the way, away from the rest of the wolves and the starstricken crowd.
"I have to admit that it is a nice city. Can't blame them for wanting to defend their home." It was easy to sympathize with Morya, a kingdom that solely wishes to live within the lands they have always had. Morya were the underdogs of the current war. The current pushback was news to the world. Nadia wasn't invincible. The unmatched powerful strength, possibly didn't need to be matched. But Abel understood that Cricket did not trust them. As plausible as Morya was, Abel too, knew that not everything was as simple as it seemed.
Abel took out a coin and tossed it over to one of the food stands to the side, handing Cricket a warm glazed bun, baked with hints of cinnamon and apples. Abel also took one, spotting Sophia speaking with an armorer far off to the side.
"I've been thinking a lot, the past few days." He confessed, walking back through the street to continue down with Cricket.
Cricket was far better fed than she had been before membership with the Wolves though she still had another couple of weeks before her weight would be considered healthy by Avarra. But compared to the hearty stews and army rations they'd been eating on their travels, this bun was an obvious delicacy. She ate it with shining eyes and sticky hands, watching Abel with a full mouth as he started to open up to her.
"I'm going to leave the wolves. In six months after the battle for Fort Allum, when everyone is granted nobility....I'm going to go."
He looked over at Cricket, her now knowing the source of his silence and hints of sadness. "You'll be safe here. No one to hunt you down. With the treaty, you'll be able to live your life. Isn't that what you've wanted?" He asked, knowing that his words wouldn't simply settle with her. Just several days ago he said that he was staying with the band to settle scores.
But his mindset changed. Meeting Cricket had changed that. "I've been devoid of any true purpose for the majority of my life. I've killed a lot of people just to survive. And.... I find myself seeking validation from those I respect. I thought I would be happy if someone like Thorne would look my way. I was content with that."
He looked ahead, seeing that things were much different now.
"I have to discover myself. And I know a peaceful life here in Morya, just isn't for me." He looked over to cricket again, unable to eat the warm bun he was holding.
"Then you're a liar." She declared to him simply as she finished her bun, sucking on her cinnamon-flavored fingers as they walked.
"You promised me you'd take me as far east as I wanted to go. Morya isn't very east."
Her tone wasn't accusatory, more matter-of-fact. "And you're wrong. Unless Morya really is a paradise, no one is going to let me live peacefully. Not when they could use me instead."
Only Abel seemed to be the exception to that rule.
His eyes looked down, not expecting her response. He really believed that she would have been safe in Morya. He believed that with the treaty was better for her to stay. But Cricket didn't believe she would be safe here. It only took one look into her eyes to convince him.
"....The farther you travel from me, and the longer we are apart, the weaker your innate power is going to get, just so you know," Cricket warned.
The bond wouldn't ever completely fade from him; not unless she died--but if he was determined to abandon her then she figured he should know that truth.
"So why aren't you inviting me to go with you?"
"I didn't want you to risk the danger of coming along with me." He answered the question honestly.
"But if you also don't plan on staying here..." He sighed, looking over to Cricket once again. Her explanation of his abilities going weaker while they were apart was already considered, though he wasn't concerned about it. He was not after the power nor wanted to use her for it. Deep down, Abel felt as if Cricket understood that.
"Alright. I don't see any reason why we should separate if you didn't want to stay here." He smiled and took a bite of his bun.
"So it's settled then. After Fort Allum, we leave Morya and head East. Together." Abel stretched with a satisfied conclusion to his dilemma. He was noticeably brighter, the crowded streets they walked through were not nearly as bustling as they had been during the parade.
And Cricket felt a sense of relief the heagreed to her terms. She and Abel had only just forged their bond, but the idea of them separating left her feeling uncomfortable and sad.
"Is this why you've been so tense and quiet these last few days?" He'd seemed so frustrated, but every attempt she'd made to try to pry had been shut down before a conversation could really start.
"Yeah. I suppose so. Sorry. It's been a difficult month between war and...well, all the changes." He had been overthinking too much, though one couldn't really blame him for it. It was a wonder how Cricket managed to keep herself calm after being chased and nearly being murdered for so long.
"What does a self-discovering journey look like anyway? Are we going to be saving damsels and killing dragons?" She asked, Abel offering the last half of his bun with her accepting it with lit up eyes.
Abel laughed, "I've got enough damsels to worry about."
He playfully eyed her but continued to answer..
"Quite frankly, it's as simple as killing anyone who gets in our way." He turned his head enough to see his sword's handle within the sheath on his back. "I've already discovered a lot of things about myself when I met you, you know. I can see my own bond in a way, with the ways of the sword."
He smiled and looked over to her, elaborating. "When I hold it, it feels true. I don't know why but I feel like traveling with you will give me newfound purpose."
It was vague because he didn't necessarily understand it. But he knew deep down that this was the right path to take. He felt it.
"Cricket, how many people have you bonded with? You've mentioned before that I'm not the first." A personal question but one he did want to know. They traveled through the market district where bounty hunters and mercs spoke around a large board. A bard was playing his own music with a lute and many merchants were scattered about with their own shops set up, selling possibly anything one could want for a fair, or unreasonable, price.
Cricket's mood sobered up considerably.
"Two others, besides you. Firefly and Beetle."
Firefly and Beetle, had him blink with a small thought.
She gave him a look as if to say, 'You really thought my actual name was cricket?' as she took a bite of her bun.
He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Of course, her name's not really Cricket.
"We grew up as orphans together, so the bonds snapped in place immediately once my blood activated." She stared at the bard playing music hard, and dropped one of her coins in the hat he had placed in front of his performance. "They died."
"I'm sorry." He said, also dropping a coin for the bard. "I'm sure they were close."
They turned towards some of the shop stands and began their walk through them. Due to the parade, there were several games being played throughout the market, gambling, and playing for free items and trinkets.
"You feel it. When the bond breaks. Death is like...a snap. I knew the second it had happened, for both of them. I felt it." She rubbed at her chest. "If I seem stand-offish with people it's not because I'm some snob of a queen it's just--"
"Hey!" A tall, young man slinked his way in front of the two, waving his hands with a massive grin.
"I am a squire of the White Phoenix Knights. Yes, the elite knights commanded under General Liam himself. And you young lady, are the fairest woman I've ever seen."
He bowed down and took her hand to deliver a gentle kiss on the back of it. Abel couldn't help but stifle a laugh, knowing that Cricket would find the gesture a little too much for her.
At first, Cricket's eyes were wide in absolute horror, and she stood as stiff as though she couldn't move a muscle. Abel's snickering caused her eyes to narrow.
"Hey! Didn't we just go over how damsels are your gig now?" She gave a gesture towards the idiot.
"Consider me distressed!"
“Distressed?" The young squire had a shocked look towards Cricket. Before looking over to Abel with a fire in his eyes.
"Excuse me, are you courting her?" The squire asked, clearly feeling disrespected at his light laughter.
"Mm, as I thought of a lowborn such as yourself."
Abel scratched his temple. Lowborn..?
The look on Abel's face said it all. He was completely uninterested in the cocky squire. And with both Cricket and Abel somewhat ignoring his presence, the blonde phoenix knight said something that caught Abel's attention.
"Well, how about a wager then?! First strike?"
Abel raised a brow but with a pause, he began to grin at the challenge. Pulling out his pouch of gold he raised it in front of the squire and dropped it at his feet.
"Alright. First strike."
The squire raised his own bag, dropping it at his own feet. "AND the lady."
Abel shook his head and looked over at Cricket with a small laugh. "Sure. The lady too."
Cricket folded her arms over her chest and gave Abel the blandest expression in the world.
With a quick stretch, Abel removed his sword and gained the attention of several eyes in the area. A few guards jabbed elbows at each other to show the other that a friendly duel was happening.
"This is way too honorable. I just wanted you to scare him a little." Cricket huffed, clearly delighted at the idea that she was being gambled for over a pouch of who even knew what.
The squire, removing his rapier, took his stance eagerly.
"Are you ready?"
"Go for it." Abel acknowledged, readying into his stance.
With a bolt of speed, the squire closed the distance and jabbed towards Abel's chest, to which Abel simply deflected with a block of his sword. The squire retreated with a large grin, a simple white runic mark appearing on Abel's sword.
It went unnoticed.
Cricket only barely paid attention--already taking for granted Abel's victory as she finished off the last of Abel's bun.
"You're fast, I'll give you that." Abel complimented, bringing his sword back up to defend once again.
The squire burst towards Abel a second time, a predictable jab of his rapier. But this time, Abel's sword was hit well before the squire's strike. The runic mark sparked, pushing Abel's sword away from the rapier that was going towards his chest.
An innate ability?!
Abel realized upon the low glow of the man's emerald green eyes, clenching his teeth to bring down his repelling sword with all his might, the blade bathing in blue light.
Cricket was startled enough to drop the last of the bread when she realized what had just happened.
Impossibly, Abel's sword reached the rapier in time. Abel not only deflects the encroaching point of the rapier, but also completely severs its blade, two fragments of it flying off to hit the stone ground below them.
"What?!" The squire dropped the handle of his broken weapon, teeth clenching at his own defeat.
He's an Innate..!
"Then you must be...?" The squire looked over to Cricket, piecing the pair together. There were claps heard around them, which prompted Abel to sheathe his sword and grab both of the pouches that were resting on the ground.
"Nice trick. An echoing strike? Scary stuff." Abel walked over to Cricket and waved to some of the crowd before leading her away, not even giving a chance for the Squire to say his peace. Looking in the pouch, it was filled with all kinds of jewels and trinkets.
"That dirty weasel. He's been ripping off people all day for this stuff!"
Cricket inspected the bag with Abel, equally fascinated. But a small gasp escaped him when he pulled out a small blue crystal.
"Cricket! Look at this thing...A Dragonstone?" He eyed it, pinching the blue crystal between his thumb and index before shifting around the pouch some more.
"A month ago I would have robbed a man like that blind." She mused.
"You? Rob him? Well, I guess he wouldn't have been able to trick you into a losing game." Abel laughed.
"Mm," Abel pulled out something silver, pressing around a bit and eventually looping the faintly glowing jewel through it.
"Ah."
Looking over to Cricket, Abel brought it up and with a soft snap the necklace hung around her neck with the crystal resting above her chest.
"Keep that one. It matches your eyes pretty well."
It was with widened eyes and a slight flush to her cheeks that she felt the necklace he'd placed around her neck.
Abel dug through the pouch again, not finding anything as eye-catching as that.
"Careful there Abel, someone might accuse you of being charming." But she smiled as she spoke, still toying with it.
"Well, I could just take it back and sell it." He joked, looking at the necklace with a small smile. The small duel certainly left Abel in a brighter mood. There was clearly some sort of passion he had for fighting. Or at least something related to it. had made him look over to the necklace with a small smile.
Cricket paused as they started to walk again, staring at him with furrowed eyes.
"You've been nice to me since we met. Saved my life with the guards, made me comfortable with the wolves, fought for me against the executioner..."
She gave a little wry smile, "Defended my honor against the idiot...are you really just that good of a person Abel? If our places were reversed, I don't know if I'd have done as much for you."
She confessed. The sins of a selfish street urchin turned queen.
"I suppose Gael left a strong impression on me." It was true that he had done a lot without expecting anything in return. He looked over to her, thinking for a moment.
"I just think we both fought to survive in different ways. You were taught to look out for yourself and be wary of whom you trust. While I was taught to trust my instincts. The fisherman who found me believed that it was the reason I was found still breathing. And at his death, he believed that I could shatter fate itself if I fought against it."
He laughed a little, shaking his head again at the strange words.
"Anyway. I did all those things because it felt right to."
Abel lingered a beat.
"Well, The Executioner, I just wanted to kick his ass."
He laughed again, Cricket watching him do so with a mild surprised expression.
It was probably right then she truly realized that Abel was the only person who wanted to be around her for who she was rather than the political or military power of her blood.