Jane, Warrior of Decura Chapter 20

The Pieces Begin the Move

An hour later, the mirian of Sunhaze Bay were concluding the funerals of their recently deceased kin. Jane, feeling guilty at not being able to save everyone, also attending and even assisted in the burial. After leaving the villagers to say their final goodbyes, Jane returned to the tavern to check on her friends, immediately spotting Nate sitting alone at a table. “Feeling better?” she asked before sitting on the chair next to the reyn.

Nate rolled one of his shoulders. “Still a little sore” he replied before smiling at Jane. “But it's nothing I can't handle.”

Jane smiled back. “Thanks for protecting me again” she said before losing her smile. “I'm sorry I took so long to wake up.”

“What was that thing on your face anyway?” Nate asked.

“I have no idea” Jane replied. “There wasn't a trace of it left in the room when we went to check. Whatever it was, it's gone now.“

Nate tried to grab Jane's shoulder, but stopped himself when he saw the tears on his sleeve rip wider. “I hope there's a good tailor somewhere in this village” he grumbled. “I really like this tunic.”

Jane hung her head. “If I'd come sooner...” she muttered. “I'm sorry Nate.”

“There's nothing to be sorry for Jane” Nate assured while standing up, putting himself at eye level with Jane. “You saved me, that's all that matters.” When Jane let out a disappointed sigh, Nate leaned over and gave the tall girl's cheek a quick kiss, instantly bringing a smile to her face. “Don't be too hard on yourself Jane, you're amazing.”

“As are you Nate” Jane said before wrapping her arms around Nate's torso and giving his lips a much longer kiss. “You're a real hero.”

Nate was about to say something smug, but quickly stopped himself and sighed. “I'm no hero” he muttered before pulling a small silver locket from his pocket. “My father, he was a hero.”

“Was?” Jane questioned while staring at the fancy-looking trinket in Nate's hand. “What's that Nate?”

“Closure...” Nate replied with a sad smile on his face. “Horrible, horrible closure.” After putting the locket away, Nate turned toward the tavern's entrance. “Jane, I'm going to walk off these aches... Do you mind if I have a few minutes to myself?”

“Of course not Nate” a concerned Jane replied. “Just, please don't strain yourself.”

“Don't worry, I'll be right back” Nate assured before smiling and leaving the building. Once he was outside, Nate made his way around the side of the tavern. After making sure nobody was around, Nate took a look at the sketches inside the locket before falling to his knees and bursting into tears.

Back inside, Patti helped William stumble toward the table Jane was sitting at. “Glad to see you moving again Will” she said with a smile. “Still a little numb?”

“That poison really did a number on me Miss Jane” William muttered before sitting across from Jane. “Nice managed to heal me, but she said I won't be back to full strength for at least another day.”

“At least you're walking again” Patti said after sitting next to the old knight. “It could have been a lot worse if Nice wasn't here. You really should thank her again once she gets free.”

“Gets free?” Jane asked, causing Patti to smirk and point toward the bar. Sitting on one of the stools was Emina, cuddling a grumpy Nice in one hand while gently brushing the kassi's hair with the other. “Oh I see...” Jane mumble while finding it very difficult not to snicker. “Did Emi finally catch you again Nice?”

“Yes...” Nice groaned weakly. “Using all that magic left me completely exhausted... I didn't see Emina's sneak attack until it was too late...” Nice suddenly gave Jane a foul glare. “And for the last time, my name is Ni'cetsukichi.”

“Don't worry little Nice” Emi giggled while patting Nice's head. “Emi will take good care of you.”

“I still can't believe what I saw her do” Patti muttered while staring at Emina. “Emina took on all those pirates on her own. Where did she even learn to fight like that?”

“She told me Mr. Welkin gave her plenty of practice” Jane replied before shrugging. “Whatever that means. I'll ask her more about it later.”

William tried to stand on his own, but his numb legs quickly gave out and forced him to sit back down. “Damn sneaky pirates...” he grumbled before clutching his shoulder. “I hope I can make it through castle Kaelen today.”

“You won't if you don't take it easy William” Patti said before patting the old knight's back. “Don't make me tie you to a chair.”

“I could carry you all the way to Etin city Will” Jane snickered.

“That would draw too much attention miss Jane” William grumbled. “Last thing I want is to get everyone arrested. So if you have to leave me behind, just do it.”

“Don't worry William, my uncle Baelog will hide you while we're in Etin city” Patti assured, a little blush appearing on her face. “I'll be sure to keep you company the whole time so you don't get lonely...”

“For the last time Will, I'm not leaving a friend behind” Jane said. “So cheer up and focus on getting better, alright?”

William shrugged and smiled. “Yes miss Jane” he chuckled before taking a moment to survey the tavern. “Where did Nate go? Shouldn't he be resting too?”

“Nate said he just needed a moment to himself” Jane replied before giving the tavern's entrance a worried glance. “I'm sure he'll be back before we leave.”

Jane was about to go check on her boyfriend, but Nice suddenly called out to her. “You're leaving?” she asked before looking up at Emina. “Golem, take me to Jane immediately.”

“Ok!” Emina cheered before darting over to the table.

After being gently placed in front of Jane, Nice planted her staff into the table. “What's this I hear about you leaving without me Jane?” she growled. “Trying to get out of paying me back already are you?”

Patti crossed her arms. “Paying you back for what?” she asked.

“For my amazing services of course” Nice replied before putting her hand on her hip. “Let's see, I got that thing off Jane's face, I saved the reyn's life, I helped Jane defeat that huge crab and I sped up the old man's recovery.” Nice's legs began to tremble, forcing her to sit down. “That's a lot of magic for me in a single day. I could have died if I pushed myself too far.”

“Are you alright miss Nice?” William asked, Nice giving him a thumbs up a second later.

“We do owe you Nice” Jane assured before using a single finger to pat the kassi's head. “You were incredible today.”

“Yes I was” Nice snickered before relaxing on her back, a smug smile on her face. “Now, about my payment...”

“Emi could cuddle you again” Emina suggested, earning her a fierce glare from Nice.

“No, I have a better idea” Nice said before pointing up at Jane. “You Jane, you will become my personal guardian while I'm here in Decura.”

“Uh... What?” Jane muttered. “Your guardian?”

“Yes, it's the perfect way to pay me back for saving your life” Nice giggled after sitting up. “There are so many things I want to see here in Decura and if today has taught me anything, it's that I'm not safe on my own. But after seeing you in action, I know you're the perfect person to become the amazing Ni'cetsukichi's first protector.” As everyone else gave Jane baffled looks, Nice used her staff to pull herself to her feet. “You said you were going to Etin city right? Well whatever that place is, I'd love to see it.” Before Jane could say something, Nice snapped her fingers. “Servant, I'm tired of looking up at everyone” she said. “Lift me up and place me on your shoulder.”

“You smug little twerp!” Patti growled before noticing the smile on Jane's face. “Jane, you're not seriously considering becoming Nice's servant are you?”

Jane gently wrapped her fingers around Nice and placed the kassi on her shoulder. “Now, now Patti, it's obvious that Nice is scared of being attacked again” she said.

“Scared?” Nice scoffed.

“Yes, scared” Jane replied while maintaining her warm smile. “I don't blame you. After all, there's so much danger out there. Pirates, bandits, giant monsters, scary lizard people, the list of things out to get you is endless.” As Nice started to look nervous, Jane gave Patti and William a quick wink. “The number one thing you have to watch out for is cragrot.”

“What's cragrot?” Nice and Emina asked together.

Patti smirked. “Oh it's a terrible disease that's taken more lives than any war in history” she explained. “There's no hope for you if you catch it.”

Nice began to tremble. “What does it do?” she asked before hugging the side of Jane's face.

“Well let me think...” Patti did her best to hide her joy. “First, you get all these small spots all over your skin. Then those spots grow until your entire body is stuck a sickly red.” Patti leaned in closer, Emina and Nice quickly doing to same. “After that... Your arms and legs stop working and then...” Patti threw up her hands “Your head flies off!”

Nice and Emina both let out a horrified scream and hugged Jane even tighter. “Emi doesn't want to lose her head!” Emina cried.

“Neither do I” Nice whimpered before wrapping her legs around Jane's head.

“Alright miss Patti, that's enough” William sighed at the snickering dwarf. “You're scaring the poor things.”

Suddenly, Nate burst into the tavern, bow in hand. “Is everyone alright?!?” he shouted as Jane and Patti burst into laughter, much to Nate's confusion.

“We're fine Nate” Jane assured while waving Nate over. “Nice was just asking if she could join us.” Jane peeled Nice from her face. “Right Nice?”

Nice nodded and clasped her hands together. “Please let me join you so I can see more of Decura” she begged. “I promise not to be a burden.”

Jane dangled Nice in front of her face. “Are you going to call me 'servant' again?” she asked, Nice quickly answering by shaking her head. “Well good, because the next time you do, I'll let Emi keep you for an entire week.”

Nice gulped and looked down at Emina, who was grinning back up at her. “I promise I won't call you that again” she yelped. “Just please, no more hugs.”

“I get the feeling she's going to be more trouble than she's worth” Patti grumbled.

Jane was about speak, but Nate quickly stopped her. “We have to do the right thing and bring her with us” he said before smiling at Jane. “That's what you were going to say right?”

“Right” Jane said, smiling back at her boyfriend as she placed Nice back on her shoulder. “Oh Nice, one more thing” Jane turned her smile toward the sad kassi. “You were incredible today. Thank you.”

“Oh... You're welcome” Nice replied, once again in a cheerful mood. “Thank you for letting me join your adventure. I promise you won't regret it.”

William couldn't help but smile. “Looks like we've gained yet another friend thanks to miss Jane” he thought before looking at the knife wound in his shoulder. “Nice will have to stay out of sight when we're around other people. Otherwise those pirates will only be the beginning...”

A few hours later, Jane and her party bid the mirian of Sunhaze Bay farewell and made their way back to castle Kaelen. That would be their final stop before reaching the human capital, Etin city.

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Elsewhere, Quill sat in the captain's quarters of her ship, enjoying a much needed cup of tea while staring at the silver ring she'd used to command Ligabis. “What a complete disaster...” she thought while staring out the window. “I'll have to pack my things and go into hiding the second I get back to the hideout. The second that damn witch finds out I failed...” Quill's hand trembled when she remembered what Hazel had done to her crew during their first encounter. “Well it doesn't matter because I'm never going to see her again.”

Suddenly, Peter burst into the room. “Captain!” he shouted, his face covered in a nervous sweat. “You need to see this!”

“Oh what now?” Quill sighed before putting the ring away and following Peter outside. The instant she walked onto the deck, Quill spotted her crew's secret island hideout in the distance and it was being consumed by bright blue flames.

“Did the Etin navy attack our base while we were gone?” one of the pirates asked.

“If only...” Quill growled through her teeth. “Turn us around! We're getting out of here!”

Suddenly, the flames scorching the small island vanished, leaving anything on the island a charred husk. A second later, small fragments of a human body appeared before Quill, quickly pulling themselves together and forming a red-haired witch. “Hello little captain” Hazel said with a sinister smile on her face as Sigmund appeared next to her.

Quill's crew quickly drew their weapons, only to be immediately ordered to stand down by their captain. “What do you want?” Quill growled at Hazel.

Hazel seemed surprised. “I thought I already explained this to you Quill” she chuckled. “I want that kassi and thanks to who I saw through the eyes of Ligabis, I know you don't have her.” Hazel took a moment to glance around the ship. “That's makes me very angry Quill. I'm almost, almost tempted to reduce you and your entire crew to ash.” Hazel shrugged and turned back to Quill. “However, this time I've decided to be lenient and only torch your hideout and those you left behind to guard it. Is that fair?”

“Completely fair...” Quill growled while struggling to contain her rage.

Peter however, wasn't interested in being as understanding as his captain. In a fit of rage, he tried to draw his crossbow. Unfortunately, before he could even aim it at the witch, Sigmund rushed forward and grabbed the pirate by his throat before lifting him up.

“Somebody is a glutton for punishment” Hazel giggled before skipping over to Sigmund. “How cute. Kill him.”

“I'm sorry” Sigmund muttered while tightening his grip, snapping Peter's neck a moment later.

“Now throw that trash overboard” Hazel ordered, Sigmund tossing Peter's lifeless corpse into the sea a second later. “Anyone else want to try something that stupid?” Quill and her pirates averted their eyes, causing Hazel to giggle. “Good. Now Quill, I think you and I should have a little discussion about what I want you to do for me next.”

“Very well” Quill grumbled before crossing her arms. “What did you have in-”

Hazel threw up her hand to interrupt the captain. “But before that, I think I should give you something a little extra” she snickered as blue flames engulf her right hand. “Just to remind you not to fail me again.”

Quill clenched her teeth and back up against her ship's railing. “Wasn't destroying my headquarters and snapping my guardian's neck enough?” she asked.

“That was mostly for your crew” Hazel answered while moving her burning hand toward the nervous captain. “But this is something just for you.”

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Meanwhile, in a small forest not far from Sunhaze Bay, Welkin was leaning against a tree while Felix stood nearby. “How much longer are we going to wait here?” Felix grumbled. “Is your friend even going to show up?”

“Patience my small minded friend, patience” Welkin said. “Naught will be here soon. If you're bored, why don't you do some exercises and work up a sweat?” Welkin chuckled a little. “Oh right, you can't sweat anymore.”

Felix suddenly punched a tree, his jaelium fist smashing through the wood like it was paper. “I'm getting pretty sick and tired of your jokes Welkin!” he roared before drawing one of his daggers. “How about I poke out your other eye and-”

“Stop talking” Welkin said, immediately bringing a stop to Felix's threat. “Now, stick you head in the ground and don't come up until I say you can.” Felix tried to say something else, but his mouth refused to open and he soon drove his head into the dirt.

A second later, a tall robed figure wearing a bizarre hedgehog mask burst out of the ground in front of Welkin.

Welkin stood up straight. “Naught, good to see you my friend” he said. Were you successful in your mission?” After brushing the dirt from it's robe, Naught wiggled it's hand in a “kind of” motion, causing Welkin to sigh. “Oh well, I guess we'll just have to do this the hard way” he muttered. “For now, let's head back to Etin city. I'll keep my eye on Hazel, you keep yours on Jane. They both have important tasks to complete.”