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And now it's a full-fledged series! In our next installment, the duo arrives at a small village, showcasing their true natures since one isn't as happy as she appears to be...
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Farishta pranced around a human village without the residents paying much mind. Although their humble homes were a fraction of her overall size, they went about their daily business as if some sort of giant furry walking down the road happened to be the most normal fucking thing in the world. Kazem himself remained on her open palm, partially in disbelief as some of the villagers stopped whatever they were doing to wave in their general direction.
“Hello, Farishta!” shouted a human woman.
One child hid behind the leg of their parent.
A young guard with a spear stood at attention, smiled, and formed a salute. “Hey there, big gal!”
In return, Farishta held up a free hand and wiggled her furred fingers to wave back. “Greetings, everyone!”
Only a few villagers turned their heads to give Kazem a weird look, making him the odd one out amid their community. Others resumed their work. This included the resident blacksmith hammering away at his anvil, a few farmers with bundles of grain taking turns at the local mill, and rare merchants at their colorful stalls in the center of the settlement. More traditional architecture with thatched roofs adorned most buildings, such as the tavern, but abandoned ones showed signs of neglect and decay on the village’s perimeter. Some fields and windmills also surrounded the place, with the occasional free-range chicken strutting around as if they owned the entire area.
Kazem himself leaned to the side, staring at the ground. “Might be a good time to put me down now.”
“Who’s that?” asked the nearby guard.
Farishta brought both hands together to proudly display the bitter man to the guard. “This is my new friend, Kazem!”
Blood momentarily flushed Kazem’s cheeks once several onlookers gazed upon him, but it quickly resided as he sighed. “Is this really happening?”
“Oh, is something wrong?” she asked, slowly kneeling to place him on the ground.
Kazem soon stepped off her hands with his boots coming into contact with solid dirt. “Uh… just getting flashbacks is all. Still not sure if this is all a weird fever dream or something.” He dusted off his pants and crossed his arms. “Like that one time a buddy tricked me into trying tea made from poppy flowers.”
“Poppy flowers?” Farishta said, cocking her head to the side. “I’ve never heard of people making tea from those before! Was there something wrong with it?”
He chuckled. “Ah, it wasn’t that bad, actually. Tasty. Felt relaxed for a bit, but then it turned into something of a bad trip I’d rather not experience again.”
Farishta’s ears perked up. “Interesting! Is it a natural herbal remedy or something similar? I’ve made tea like that before!”
“That’s one way to put it.” he replied, shrugging. “Let’s just call it medicinal in nature. Very potent. I personally avoid it these days since I’d rather not get addicted to it. It’d interfere with my work and I don’t have the time or resources for that nonsense either, even if I wanted more.”
“Then maybe I should make some poppy flower tea at some point!” she said with a smile. “Perhaps you could help me with my first batch if you have any knowledge or experience in that regard. I love experimenting with new recipes!”
Kazem flashed a mischievous smirk in turn. “That’d be something...”
Farishta practically burst with joy, laughing with her tail swishing behind her. “Aw! I knew I’d find a way to make you smile somehow!”
The guard then approached the two, shaking his head. “Farishta, darling… you do know that poppy flowers are used to make like… opium… right?”
She formed a more neutral facial expression. “Opium?” Her head tilted to the side. “What’s that?”
“I… forget it.” he said with another shake of his head. “Who’s this shady character tagging along with you?”
“You mean Kazem?” she asked, focusing on him.
The man in question sneered. “Shady character? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Some villagers silently stared at the trio or began departing the scene, directing most attention toward the guard.
“I mean no offense sir, but you look like a road bandit or some other sort of ruffian.”
Kazem placed a hand on his chest to feign offense. “How rude. Is it my jacket?”
Farishta rolled her eyes. “Oh, Dennis! I know you take your job as a watchman super seriously, but my friend Kazem is an independent peddler. There’s no need to get worked up!”
Dennis raised an eyebrow. “A peddler?” He glanced at Kazem, who approached him from the side. “What merchandise are you carrying then, sir?”
He gave the guard a blank look. “Oh, you know. Just the typical stuff that’s in high demand…” Kazem then opened his jacket to showcase various items he had on his person, procuring a few glass containers and pocket lint with his other hand. “Black pepper. Matches. A watch. Nitroglycerin. Normal things people use. I’m just a part-time trader selling small and valuable commodities and all of that whenever I can.”
In response, Dennis scratched the back of his head. “Uh… gee, sir. That’s unorthodox. You came here all the way from the south?”
Kazem glanced at Dennis. Their skin tones contrasted against one another since Kazem had a more tan complexion while the younger man had more pale flesh. “Yup.” he said without a hint of emotion. “I know this isn’t imperial territory anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to visit all these new kingdoms...”
“While you two are getting acquainted with one another,” interrupted Farishta, “I need to tell everyone goodbye and gather a few more things! Maybe Dennis can give you a tour of the village if you need anything as well, Kazem.”
“What?” Dennis said, jaw almost going agape. “You’re leaving us?!”
Farishta’s tail slumped to the ground. “It’s not that I want to leave, but I think it’s finally time for me to see my people again.” She brought a clawed finger to her chin. “Maybe I’ll come back, but I’m not certain yet…”
Dennis shook his head. “Might as well be the end of an era! It’ll be odd not seeing you anymore, Miss Farishta, but I wish you luck!”
She giggled a little. “Don’t worry. I don’t need luck! Kazem should be able to provide me with some directions and guidance along the way since we both have the same destination in mind!”
“He… what?” Dennis said with his face scrunching up.
“Maybe Kazem can explain the business arrangement we made.” Farishta said, gradually standing back up. “Otherwise, I’ll meet you two by Mary’s Ranch whenever you’re ready to leave! Dennis can point you in the right direction if you don’t know where it is, Kazem.”
He nodded. “Got it.”
Dennis groaned. “Ah, good grief…”
Without further delay, Farishta began carefully walking away, sticking to the edge of the village.
This left the two men to their own affairs as they spent several seconds staring at each other.
“Would you mind explaining why Miss Farishta has latched onto you?” asked Dennis, breaking the awkward silence. “Who are you, really?”
For a moment, Kazem simply stared the guard down. “A humble peddler. As I have already explained. I visited the monastery since I happened to be in the area, I met Farishta, then she offered to provide me with free protection if she could accompany me on my little business trips. That’s all.”
Dennis narrowed his eyes. “That’s funny. I don’t remember you stopping by Ashbourne at any point.” He retrieved a steel key embedded with a green gemstone, presenting it. “I keep the horses at Mary’s Ranch under lock and key too, so I would have seen yours if you were passing by.”
“Why would I go to the ranch?” asked Kazem. The key and its emerald decoration glittered within his own green eyes as he gazed upon it.
Dennis swirled the steel key around before returning it to a front pocket. “Pilgrims tend to leave their horses behind at some stables since Mary takes care of them for a small fee, you see, yet this is the first time I’ve ever seen or even heard of you.”
With a dismissive sneer, Kazem looked away. “I bypassed this place. Don’t even own a horse.”
“You mean to tell me you walked all the way here, sir?”
“Obviously.” answered Kazem. “What’s with all the distrust and hostility, anyway?”
Dennis finally let his guard down by lowering his spear and sighing. “My apologies, sir. Farishta is a really sweet lass, but sometimes she’s very… innocent. But she’s not stupid! She just rarely interacts with anyone unless she visits us every other month, so she’s a bit solitary and sheltered. I’ve always been afraid of some unsavory types eventually trying to manipulate or take advantage of her in some way, shape, or form…”
“So that’s why no one freaked out when she showed up?” asked Kazem, scoffing.
“I mean… kind of?” replied Dennis. “People are used to her. Well, usually. Farishta also gets really anxious or sad if she’s suddenly the center of attention with people acting scared of her. Poor girl. Folks here have been pretending to pay her no mind for all my life, even if it’s a cause of concern, just to make her feel a little more normal!”
Kazem furrowed his brow. “And how long has this been going on?”
“I don’t know.” Dennis said, breaking eye contact. “Centuries? Some still argue about it. Either way, this place might not even exist if it wasn’t for her. According to my folks, a dragon used to harass the farmers and ranchers here, until Farishta came down to defend us…”
Looking side to side, Kazem maintained a keen awareness of his surroundings. “She did say something about hunting and eating dragons, but I found it hard to believe considering her whole temperament.”
Dennis scratched his head. “The way my father phrased that particular story made me skeptical too. According to him, as soon as the dragon even got near Farishta, it just fell from the sky. Couldn’t breathe fire for some reason either. She didn’t even really do anything to fight it either, the dragon just sort of slammed against the ground and broke its neck, then she poked it with a big stick afterward.”
“Ah, right.” Kazem said with a roll of his eyes. “Her fighting staff.”
“But yeah. Everyone celebrated the death of Darkwing the Invincible after that. Farishta also allegedly helped folks with spit-roasting and butchering the dragon too.”
Kazem rolled his shoulders. “Huh. That dragon’s stupid name doesn’t sound super fitting then.”
Dennis let out a chuckle. “I suppose you’re right, sir! But my apologies if I came across a bit… aggressive. Wasn’t trying to interrogate you or anything. Just looking out for others and explaining the situation I suppose since Farishta has been our guardian angel of sorts for as long as I can remember.”
“No offense taken.” interjected Kazem.
“And I know folks don’t really worship her kind as demi-gods anymore, but if she’s not at the monastery anymore… might complicate matters for us and the pilgrims.”
Kazem let out a huff. “Hm.” He scratched the underside of his chin. “I’ve heard the rumors and legends about mergich before, but I dismissed it as a bunch of crap. It’s nothing short of surreal seeing Farishta simply… well, exist. They don’t exactly dwell anywhere near where I come from.”
“Not even mergich mercenaries?” Dennis asked, returning to a position of attention. “Ah, forget about it. I have stuff to do and here I am engaging in a bunch of small talk! Just take care of her if you’re telling the truth about everything. Word will spread quickly otherwise.”
Dennis then extended a hand outward. With some reluctance, Kazem shook his hand, prompting a smile from both parties, albeit Kazem had more of a smug smirk compared to Dennis’s more broad one.
“To be straight with you, I also think Farishta is a nice person.” Kazem said, placing a hand on the guard’s shoulder once they finished their handshake. “I don’t have any malicious intent against her. I’m just here to do a job, unfortunately, but she’ll probably be fine regardless of whatever happens.”
“That’s a relief to hear, sir!” Dennis said, letting out a sigh for emphasis. “My bad for misjudging you too!”
Kazem took a step back, placing his hands in his coat pockets. “Don’t worry about it.” He glanced at other parts of the village, where the residents mostly ignored his presence. Some market stalls were unattended. Others had merchandise ripe for the taking, such as jewelry, while other distracted merchants engaged in small talk among one another and the occasional customer. “I think I’ll be able to find my way around, but would you mind pointing me in the direction of that ranch Farishta mentioned?”
Dennis pressed his spear’s shaft against the ground. “There’s a road from Ashbourne leading to the north. If you follow it and some of the signs, there’s no way you’ll miss it on the edge of the village!”
Kazem made some mental calculations and started walking straight toward the marketplace. “Thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it!” Dennis said with more of a mock salute.
Following a few moments, Dennis reached into his front pocket. His heart skipped a beat once he found no key whatsoever. From there, he started checking multiple pockets, scanning even the dirt in the event it got dropped on the ground.
~~~~~
Approximately ten minutes later, Kazem found himself moving down a road. Brand new rings adorned his fingers. Not to mention some other miscellaneous jewelry, fine spices, and golden coins lining the interior of his coat pockets. Just as Dennis instructed, he stumbled upon an adjoining dirt path thanks to a convenient wooden sign, leading directly to a fenced-in ranch with a barn and other adjacent fields.
Another windmill happened to be next to the barn to boot.
Farishta herself couldn’t make the right rendezvous point more obvious. Her entire body happened to be just as large if not bigger than the barn itself. She absent-mindedly toyed with the windmill, spinning it a little, while a human woman next to her feet engaged her in idle conversation.
“But… you’re absolutely sure he’s not a grave robber or something?”
“I’m not that naive, Mary.” Farishta said, turning her attention to the ground. “I think he might be a smuggler, but I don’t really know! Then again, he’s certainly from a faraway land and potentially has connections, so I guess it doesn’t really matter too much. Almost everyone else I know has been living in Ashbourne for all their lives!”
The old human woman rubbed her eyes. “If you say so. I told you the story about the farmer and the snake, right? Or some other variation like the scorpion and the frog?”
Meanwhile, Kazem ducked behind bushes and trees lining the ranch’s pathway. Some vegetation eventually gave way to open ground, where wooden fences and animals such as cows grazed on the grasslands. Over time, he skulked towards the women to hear their voices with crystal clear clarity, but Kazem also refrained from getting close enough to be easily spotted in a delicate balancing act.
“I’m… not sure about the second one.” Farishta said, following a moment of silence. “Still, Kazem seems like he’s really… street smart? He has eyes like a hawk and knows how to stay out of trouble. I might need someone like that if you’re trying to warn me from what little I’ve told you about him!”
“Which is exactly why I need to tell you this story.” said Mary in a stern tone of voice. “It’s a cautionary tale.”
Farishta’s tail swayed behind her a little more quickly. “Very well…”
Mary took a moment to clear her throat. “Okay. So… one day, a scorpion wants to cross a river. It can’t swim. So it asks a frog to carry it across. The frog hesitates, afraid that the scorpion might sting it, but the scorpion promises not to, pointing out that they would both drown if the scorpion killed the frog in the middle of the river. The frog considers this argument sensible and agrees to carry the scorpion. However, halfway through the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming them both.”
“Why would the scorpion do that?” asked Farishta, her amethyst eyes going wide.
Mary gave her a stern look. “I was getting to that. The dying frog does indeed ask why the scorpion stung them anyway. Do you know what the scorpion says?”
Farishta didn’t say anything, but she leaned forward a little. Mary’s following words were full of nothing but venom as they filled the air…
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s in my nature.”
With a frown on her face, Farishta rubbed the back of her head. “People aren’t animals driven by raw instinct, Mary.”
“Yes, but scoundrels aren’t people you should pity or associate with either!” she replied, sneering. “But I suppose you aren’t any different in that regard. Just the other side of the same coin. Whereas it’s in your nature to be kind and help people, it’s within their nature to do the exact opposite.”
Farishta crossed her arms. “Is it really so bad to be an optimist giving people the benefit of the doubt?”
Mary shook her head. “You’ll constantly find yourself disappointed compared to the pleasantly surprised pessimist, to say the least.”
At these words, Farishta let out an exasperated sigh. “Ugh. So cynical!”
Kazem finally stood up and strolled towards the two with the conversation near its conclusion. Farm animals and crops alike flanked him on several sides. His sudden presence alone made Farishta jump and recoil a little as her tail shot up, just for her to quickly recompose herself as she smiled.
“Oh!” Farishta said. “Ha… hey, Kazem!” She let out a nervous laugh and fiddled with her golden ouroboros necklace. “I wasn’t expecting you to be prepared to leave already!”
An artificial smile also spread across Mary’s face, showcasing her wrinkles and dimples. “Good heavens! Is this your new friend?”
Farishta nodded at Mary. “Yeah! I guess that means it’s nearly time to go, so thanks again for giving me some provisions for the journey!”
Mary let out a hearty laugh. “Anything for you, sugar!” She then walked away from Farishta when Kazem finally joined them by the barn. “I’ll leave you to it, then! Good luck trying to find your way home!”
“Take care!” Farishta said, waving her off.
Kazem gave Mary an unamused look. Looking to his right, he found stables near the barn, and around four horses remained confined to them. So, naturally, he made his way to the animals. Farishta shadowed his movements as she watched on and spoke in a soft tone.
“Um… how much of our conversation did you overhear, exactly?”
Rather than answering, Kazem slipped out a steel key with a green gemstone from his pocket, allowing him to unlock one of the stables before leaving it in the locking mechanism.
Farishta loomed over him and crouched down a little. “Where’d you get that?”
“Dennis let me borrow it.” he answered, looking at a brown horse staring right back at him. “Just getting back my ride is all.”
“You have a horse?” asked Farishta, blinking a few times. “You never mentioned this…”
“Clearly. Really rude of Mary to walk away once you finished your gossip too.”
She curled up her fingers and toes. “Ah! I knew it…” Farishta then closed her eyes for several seconds before opening them again. “Please don’t be mad at me! I’ve been doing my best to be polite so far, but… you know… your attitude.”
In the meantime, Kazam went about mounting a horse. He slowly approached it to the side, talking with a borderline whisper as the horse took a few steps back. “Easy, easy…” he muttered. Although the horse bent its knees a bit, Kazem managed to grab hold of its saddle horn, shifting it left to right to make the horse straighten up its posture and stand still like a statue. A mix of holding its mane, reins, and stepping on the stirrups let him go up and over before he firmly sat in the saddle.
The horse let out a light neigh as it walked out, with Kazem controlling it by its reins.
Farishta reacted with wide eyes and her jaw going agape. “Oh wow!”
“Yeah, this should work way better than what we were previously doing.” Kazem said with a hint of indifference. After several seconds, he lightly pulled on his new reins, and the horse halted. “But anyway… why me?”
This took Farishta aback as she recoiled. “What?”
“You’re clearly well-acquainted with most of the people living here,” continued Kazem, “Yet you wanted to travel around with me of all people. I heard what you said earlier, and I know there’s still potential trust issues, but now I’m genuinely curious. So I’ll say it again.” He paused to give her a death stare. “Why me?”
Farishta broke eye contact. “Well, you already heard some of the things I had to say, but I’ll repeat myself. You’re actually from outside the village, you implied that you’ve traveled all around the continent, and it looks like you’re from the imperial heartlands! Combined with the recent realization that you might be more clever in ways I’m not, I can’t think of any better candidates for a traveling partner…”
During this commotion, Kazem’s horse moved to the trail leading back to the northern road. “Even with my attitude?” he asked.
“I didn’t mean any offense by bringing your personality up!” she said with her face scrunching up. “You’re just… different.”
He shrugged. “I think it’s perfectly fair criticism.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s not anything personal, Farishta. I can come across as cold or abrasive according to others. In my profession, I find it easier not to get too emotionally attached to others since people just sort of come and go. Sorry if I came across as snide or disrespectful otherwise.”
She began walking as well to keep up with the horse. “No, no! I totally get that. It’s perfectly fine! I… I accept your apology, and I’m sorry too! I just hope that none of this affects our traveling plans together…”
“Not at all.” replied Kazam in a marginally more upbeat tone. “I think it could be a mutually beneficial relationship. The least I can do is try to help you find your way home before we ever part ways.”
Farishta maintained a walking pace on par with the horse as they spoke. “That’s just music to my ears, Kazem!”
“Plus someone your size could help me with smuggling all sorts of illegal goods.”
Farishta’s eyes went wide as they left the ranch behind. “That’s another one of your jokes, right?”
Kazem didn’t respond. Once he reached the northern road, he gained a small headstart with Farishta forced to carefully sidestep the fences and decorative trees.
“Right, Kazem?” repeated Farishta again.
He only stopped to chuckle, allowing her to catch up as she trailed behind him on the road.
“Kazem!” she said, smiling a little and shaking her head.
With Ashborne’s guardian and some of their many valuables in tow, Kazem succeeded in effortlessly robbing them of their greatest treasures before beginning the next phase of his plans.
First Chapter
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First Chapter
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Chapter Selection
Farishta pranced around a human village without the residents paying much mind. Although their humble homes were a fraction of her overall size, they went about their daily business as if some sort of giant furry walking down the road happened to be the most normal fucking thing in the world. Kazem himself remained on her open palm, partially in disbelief as some of the villagers stopped whatever they were doing to wave in their general direction.
“Hello, Farishta!” shouted a human woman.
One child hid behind the leg of their parent.
A young guard with a spear stood at attention, smiled, and formed a salute. “Hey there, big gal!”
In return, Farishta held up a free hand and wiggled her furred fingers to wave back. “Greetings, everyone!”
Only a few villagers turned their heads to give Kazem a weird look, making him the odd one out amid their community. Others resumed their work. This included the resident blacksmith hammering away at his anvil, a few farmers with bundles of grain taking turns at the local mill, and rare merchants at their colorful stalls in the center of the settlement. More traditional architecture with thatched roofs adorned most buildings, such as the tavern, but abandoned ones showed signs of neglect and decay on the village’s perimeter. Some fields and windmills also surrounded the place, with the occasional free-range chicken strutting around as if they owned the entire area.
Kazem himself leaned to the side, staring at the ground. “Might be a good time to put me down now.”
“Who’s that?” asked the nearby guard.
Farishta brought both hands together to proudly display the bitter man to the guard. “This is my new friend, Kazem!”
Blood momentarily flushed Kazem’s cheeks once several onlookers gazed upon him, but it quickly resided as he sighed. “Is this really happening?”
“Oh, is something wrong?” she asked, slowly kneeling to place him on the ground.
Kazem soon stepped off her hands with his boots coming into contact with solid dirt. “Uh… just getting flashbacks is all. Still not sure if this is all a weird fever dream or something.” He dusted off his pants and crossed his arms. “Like that one time a buddy tricked me into trying tea made from poppy flowers.”
“Poppy flowers?” Farishta said, cocking her head to the side. “I’ve never heard of people making tea from those before! Was there something wrong with it?”
He chuckled. “Ah, it wasn’t that bad, actually. Tasty. Felt relaxed for a bit, but then it turned into something of a bad trip I’d rather not experience again.”
Farishta’s ears perked up. “Interesting! Is it a natural herbal remedy or something similar? I’ve made tea like that before!”
“That’s one way to put it.” he replied, shrugging. “Let’s just call it medicinal in nature. Very potent. I personally avoid it these days since I’d rather not get addicted to it. It’d interfere with my work and I don’t have the time or resources for that nonsense either, even if I wanted more.”
“Then maybe I should make some poppy flower tea at some point!” she said with a smile. “Perhaps you could help me with my first batch if you have any knowledge or experience in that regard. I love experimenting with new recipes!”
Kazem flashed a mischievous smirk in turn. “That’d be something...”
Farishta practically burst with joy, laughing with her tail swishing behind her. “Aw! I knew I’d find a way to make you smile somehow!”
The guard then approached the two, shaking his head. “Farishta, darling… you do know that poppy flowers are used to make like… opium… right?”
She formed a more neutral facial expression. “Opium?” Her head tilted to the side. “What’s that?”
“I… forget it.” he said with another shake of his head. “Who’s this shady character tagging along with you?”
“You mean Kazem?” she asked, focusing on him.
The man in question sneered. “Shady character? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Some villagers silently stared at the trio or began departing the scene, directing most attention toward the guard.
“I mean no offense sir, but you look like a road bandit or some other sort of ruffian.”
Kazem placed a hand on his chest to feign offense. “How rude. Is it my jacket?”
Farishta rolled her eyes. “Oh, Dennis! I know you take your job as a watchman super seriously, but my friend Kazem is an independent peddler. There’s no need to get worked up!”
Dennis raised an eyebrow. “A peddler?” He glanced at Kazem, who approached him from the side. “What merchandise are you carrying then, sir?”
He gave the guard a blank look. “Oh, you know. Just the typical stuff that’s in high demand…” Kazem then opened his jacket to showcase various items he had on his person, procuring a few glass containers and pocket lint with his other hand. “Black pepper. Matches. A watch. Nitroglycerin. Normal things people use. I’m just a part-time trader selling small and valuable commodities and all of that whenever I can.”
In response, Dennis scratched the back of his head. “Uh… gee, sir. That’s unorthodox. You came here all the way from the south?”
Kazem glanced at Dennis. Their skin tones contrasted against one another since Kazem had a more tan complexion while the younger man had more pale flesh. “Yup.” he said without a hint of emotion. “I know this isn’t imperial territory anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to visit all these new kingdoms...”
“While you two are getting acquainted with one another,” interrupted Farishta, “I need to tell everyone goodbye and gather a few more things! Maybe Dennis can give you a tour of the village if you need anything as well, Kazem.”
“What?” Dennis said, jaw almost going agape. “You’re leaving us?!”
Farishta’s tail slumped to the ground. “It’s not that I want to leave, but I think it’s finally time for me to see my people again.” She brought a clawed finger to her chin. “Maybe I’ll come back, but I’m not certain yet…”
Dennis shook his head. “Might as well be the end of an era! It’ll be odd not seeing you anymore, Miss Farishta, but I wish you luck!”
She giggled a little. “Don’t worry. I don’t need luck! Kazem should be able to provide me with some directions and guidance along the way since we both have the same destination in mind!”
“He… what?” Dennis said with his face scrunching up.
“Maybe Kazem can explain the business arrangement we made.” Farishta said, gradually standing back up. “Otherwise, I’ll meet you two by Mary’s Ranch whenever you’re ready to leave! Dennis can point you in the right direction if you don’t know where it is, Kazem.”
He nodded. “Got it.”
Dennis groaned. “Ah, good grief…”
Without further delay, Farishta began carefully walking away, sticking to the edge of the village.
This left the two men to their own affairs as they spent several seconds staring at each other.
“Would you mind explaining why Miss Farishta has latched onto you?” asked Dennis, breaking the awkward silence. “Who are you, really?”
For a moment, Kazem simply stared the guard down. “A humble peddler. As I have already explained. I visited the monastery since I happened to be in the area, I met Farishta, then she offered to provide me with free protection if she could accompany me on my little business trips. That’s all.”
Dennis narrowed his eyes. “That’s funny. I don’t remember you stopping by Ashbourne at any point.” He retrieved a steel key embedded with a green gemstone, presenting it. “I keep the horses at Mary’s Ranch under lock and key too, so I would have seen yours if you were passing by.”
“Why would I go to the ranch?” asked Kazem. The key and its emerald decoration glittered within his own green eyes as he gazed upon it.
Dennis swirled the steel key around before returning it to a front pocket. “Pilgrims tend to leave their horses behind at some stables since Mary takes care of them for a small fee, you see, yet this is the first time I’ve ever seen or even heard of you.”
With a dismissive sneer, Kazem looked away. “I bypassed this place. Don’t even own a horse.”
“You mean to tell me you walked all the way here, sir?”
“Obviously.” answered Kazem. “What’s with all the distrust and hostility, anyway?”
Dennis finally let his guard down by lowering his spear and sighing. “My apologies, sir. Farishta is a really sweet lass, but sometimes she’s very… innocent. But she’s not stupid! She just rarely interacts with anyone unless she visits us every other month, so she’s a bit solitary and sheltered. I’ve always been afraid of some unsavory types eventually trying to manipulate or take advantage of her in some way, shape, or form…”
“So that’s why no one freaked out when she showed up?” asked Kazem, scoffing.
“I mean… kind of?” replied Dennis. “People are used to her. Well, usually. Farishta also gets really anxious or sad if she’s suddenly the center of attention with people acting scared of her. Poor girl. Folks here have been pretending to pay her no mind for all my life, even if it’s a cause of concern, just to make her feel a little more normal!”
Kazem furrowed his brow. “And how long has this been going on?”
“I don’t know.” Dennis said, breaking eye contact. “Centuries? Some still argue about it. Either way, this place might not even exist if it wasn’t for her. According to my folks, a dragon used to harass the farmers and ranchers here, until Farishta came down to defend us…”
Looking side to side, Kazem maintained a keen awareness of his surroundings. “She did say something about hunting and eating dragons, but I found it hard to believe considering her whole temperament.”
Dennis scratched his head. “The way my father phrased that particular story made me skeptical too. According to him, as soon as the dragon even got near Farishta, it just fell from the sky. Couldn’t breathe fire for some reason either. She didn’t even really do anything to fight it either, the dragon just sort of slammed against the ground and broke its neck, then she poked it with a big stick afterward.”
“Ah, right.” Kazem said with a roll of his eyes. “Her fighting staff.”
“But yeah. Everyone celebrated the death of Darkwing the Invincible after that. Farishta also allegedly helped folks with spit-roasting and butchering the dragon too.”
Kazem rolled his shoulders. “Huh. That dragon’s stupid name doesn’t sound super fitting then.”
Dennis let out a chuckle. “I suppose you’re right, sir! But my apologies if I came across a bit… aggressive. Wasn’t trying to interrogate you or anything. Just looking out for others and explaining the situation I suppose since Farishta has been our guardian angel of sorts for as long as I can remember.”
“No offense taken.” interjected Kazem.
“And I know folks don’t really worship her kind as demi-gods anymore, but if she’s not at the monastery anymore… might complicate matters for us and the pilgrims.”
Kazem let out a huff. “Hm.” He scratched the underside of his chin. “I’ve heard the rumors and legends about mergich before, but I dismissed it as a bunch of crap. It’s nothing short of surreal seeing Farishta simply… well, exist. They don’t exactly dwell anywhere near where I come from.”
“Not even mergich mercenaries?” Dennis asked, returning to a position of attention. “Ah, forget about it. I have stuff to do and here I am engaging in a bunch of small talk! Just take care of her if you’re telling the truth about everything. Word will spread quickly otherwise.”
Dennis then extended a hand outward. With some reluctance, Kazem shook his hand, prompting a smile from both parties, albeit Kazem had more of a smug smirk compared to Dennis’s more broad one.
“To be straight with you, I also think Farishta is a nice person.” Kazem said, placing a hand on the guard’s shoulder once they finished their handshake. “I don’t have any malicious intent against her. I’m just here to do a job, unfortunately, but she’ll probably be fine regardless of whatever happens.”
“That’s a relief to hear, sir!” Dennis said, letting out a sigh for emphasis. “My bad for misjudging you too!”
Kazem took a step back, placing his hands in his coat pockets. “Don’t worry about it.” He glanced at other parts of the village, where the residents mostly ignored his presence. Some market stalls were unattended. Others had merchandise ripe for the taking, such as jewelry, while other distracted merchants engaged in small talk among one another and the occasional customer. “I think I’ll be able to find my way around, but would you mind pointing me in the direction of that ranch Farishta mentioned?”
Dennis pressed his spear’s shaft against the ground. “There’s a road from Ashbourne leading to the north. If you follow it and some of the signs, there’s no way you’ll miss it on the edge of the village!”
Kazem made some mental calculations and started walking straight toward the marketplace. “Thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it!” Dennis said with more of a mock salute.
Following a few moments, Dennis reached into his front pocket. His heart skipped a beat once he found no key whatsoever. From there, he started checking multiple pockets, scanning even the dirt in the event it got dropped on the ground.
~~~~~
Approximately ten minutes later, Kazem found himself moving down a road. Brand new rings adorned his fingers. Not to mention some other miscellaneous jewelry, fine spices, and golden coins lining the interior of his coat pockets. Just as Dennis instructed, he stumbled upon an adjoining dirt path thanks to a convenient wooden sign, leading directly to a fenced-in ranch with a barn and other adjacent fields.
Another windmill happened to be next to the barn to boot.
Farishta herself couldn’t make the right rendezvous point more obvious. Her entire body happened to be just as large if not bigger than the barn itself. She absent-mindedly toyed with the windmill, spinning it a little, while a human woman next to her feet engaged her in idle conversation.
“But… you’re absolutely sure he’s not a grave robber or something?”
“I’m not that naive, Mary.” Farishta said, turning her attention to the ground. “I think he might be a smuggler, but I don’t really know! Then again, he’s certainly from a faraway land and potentially has connections, so I guess it doesn’t really matter too much. Almost everyone else I know has been living in Ashbourne for all their lives!”
The old human woman rubbed her eyes. “If you say so. I told you the story about the farmer and the snake, right? Or some other variation like the scorpion and the frog?”
Meanwhile, Kazem ducked behind bushes and trees lining the ranch’s pathway. Some vegetation eventually gave way to open ground, where wooden fences and animals such as cows grazed on the grasslands. Over time, he skulked towards the women to hear their voices with crystal clear clarity, but Kazem also refrained from getting close enough to be easily spotted in a delicate balancing act.
“I’m… not sure about the second one.” Farishta said, following a moment of silence. “Still, Kazem seems like he’s really… street smart? He has eyes like a hawk and knows how to stay out of trouble. I might need someone like that if you’re trying to warn me from what little I’ve told you about him!”
“Which is exactly why I need to tell you this story.” said Mary in a stern tone of voice. “It’s a cautionary tale.”
Farishta’s tail swayed behind her a little more quickly. “Very well…”
Mary took a moment to clear her throat. “Okay. So… one day, a scorpion wants to cross a river. It can’t swim. So it asks a frog to carry it across. The frog hesitates, afraid that the scorpion might sting it, but the scorpion promises not to, pointing out that they would both drown if the scorpion killed the frog in the middle of the river. The frog considers this argument sensible and agrees to carry the scorpion. However, halfway through the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming them both.”
“Why would the scorpion do that?” asked Farishta, her amethyst eyes going wide.
Mary gave her a stern look. “I was getting to that. The dying frog does indeed ask why the scorpion stung them anyway. Do you know what the scorpion says?”
Farishta didn’t say anything, but she leaned forward a little. Mary’s following words were full of nothing but venom as they filled the air…
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s in my nature.”
With a frown on her face, Farishta rubbed the back of her head. “People aren’t animals driven by raw instinct, Mary.”
“Yes, but scoundrels aren’t people you should pity or associate with either!” she replied, sneering. “But I suppose you aren’t any different in that regard. Just the other side of the same coin. Whereas it’s in your nature to be kind and help people, it’s within their nature to do the exact opposite.”
Farishta crossed her arms. “Is it really so bad to be an optimist giving people the benefit of the doubt?”
Mary shook her head. “You’ll constantly find yourself disappointed compared to the pleasantly surprised pessimist, to say the least.”
At these words, Farishta let out an exasperated sigh. “Ugh. So cynical!”
Kazem finally stood up and strolled towards the two with the conversation near its conclusion. Farm animals and crops alike flanked him on several sides. His sudden presence alone made Farishta jump and recoil a little as her tail shot up, just for her to quickly recompose herself as she smiled.
“Oh!” Farishta said. “Ha… hey, Kazem!” She let out a nervous laugh and fiddled with her golden ouroboros necklace. “I wasn’t expecting you to be prepared to leave already!”
An artificial smile also spread across Mary’s face, showcasing her wrinkles and dimples. “Good heavens! Is this your new friend?”
Farishta nodded at Mary. “Yeah! I guess that means it’s nearly time to go, so thanks again for giving me some provisions for the journey!”
Mary let out a hearty laugh. “Anything for you, sugar!” She then walked away from Farishta when Kazem finally joined them by the barn. “I’ll leave you to it, then! Good luck trying to find your way home!”
“Take care!” Farishta said, waving her off.
Kazem gave Mary an unamused look. Looking to his right, he found stables near the barn, and around four horses remained confined to them. So, naturally, he made his way to the animals. Farishta shadowed his movements as she watched on and spoke in a soft tone.
“Um… how much of our conversation did you overhear, exactly?”
Rather than answering, Kazem slipped out a steel key with a green gemstone from his pocket, allowing him to unlock one of the stables before leaving it in the locking mechanism.
Farishta loomed over him and crouched down a little. “Where’d you get that?”
“Dennis let me borrow it.” he answered, looking at a brown horse staring right back at him. “Just getting back my ride is all.”
“You have a horse?” asked Farishta, blinking a few times. “You never mentioned this…”
“Clearly. Really rude of Mary to walk away once you finished your gossip too.”
She curled up her fingers and toes. “Ah! I knew it…” Farishta then closed her eyes for several seconds before opening them again. “Please don’t be mad at me! I’ve been doing my best to be polite so far, but… you know… your attitude.”
In the meantime, Kazam went about mounting a horse. He slowly approached it to the side, talking with a borderline whisper as the horse took a few steps back. “Easy, easy…” he muttered. Although the horse bent its knees a bit, Kazem managed to grab hold of its saddle horn, shifting it left to right to make the horse straighten up its posture and stand still like a statue. A mix of holding its mane, reins, and stepping on the stirrups let him go up and over before he firmly sat in the saddle.
The horse let out a light neigh as it walked out, with Kazem controlling it by its reins.
Farishta reacted with wide eyes and her jaw going agape. “Oh wow!”
“Yeah, this should work way better than what we were previously doing.” Kazem said with a hint of indifference. After several seconds, he lightly pulled on his new reins, and the horse halted. “But anyway… why me?”
This took Farishta aback as she recoiled. “What?”
“You’re clearly well-acquainted with most of the people living here,” continued Kazem, “Yet you wanted to travel around with me of all people. I heard what you said earlier, and I know there’s still potential trust issues, but now I’m genuinely curious. So I’ll say it again.” He paused to give her a death stare. “Why me?”
Farishta broke eye contact. “Well, you already heard some of the things I had to say, but I’ll repeat myself. You’re actually from outside the village, you implied that you’ve traveled all around the continent, and it looks like you’re from the imperial heartlands! Combined with the recent realization that you might be more clever in ways I’m not, I can’t think of any better candidates for a traveling partner…”
During this commotion, Kazem’s horse moved to the trail leading back to the northern road. “Even with my attitude?” he asked.
“I didn’t mean any offense by bringing your personality up!” she said with her face scrunching up. “You’re just… different.”
He shrugged. “I think it’s perfectly fair criticism.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s not anything personal, Farishta. I can come across as cold or abrasive according to others. In my profession, I find it easier not to get too emotionally attached to others since people just sort of come and go. Sorry if I came across as snide or disrespectful otherwise.”
She began walking as well to keep up with the horse. “No, no! I totally get that. It’s perfectly fine! I… I accept your apology, and I’m sorry too! I just hope that none of this affects our traveling plans together…”
“Not at all.” replied Kazam in a marginally more upbeat tone. “I think it could be a mutually beneficial relationship. The least I can do is try to help you find your way home before we ever part ways.”
Farishta maintained a walking pace on par with the horse as they spoke. “That’s just music to my ears, Kazem!”
“Plus someone your size could help me with smuggling all sorts of illegal goods.”
Farishta’s eyes went wide as they left the ranch behind. “That’s another one of your jokes, right?”
Kazem didn’t respond. Once he reached the northern road, he gained a small headstart with Farishta forced to carefully sidestep the fences and decorative trees.
“Right, Kazem?” repeated Farishta again.
He only stopped to chuckle, allowing her to catch up as she trailed behind him on the road.
“Kazem!” she said, smiling a little and shaking her head.
With Ashborne’s guardian and some of their many valuables in tow, Kazem succeeded in effortlessly robbing them of their greatest treasures before beginning the next phase of his plans.
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