Headed by a Snake

Old Fool reassumed his Flood Dragon form to fly Tycon and Korr back to the sect. Korr was silent for most of the return back, but Tycon heard her whisper to her new dragon plush in a strange high-pitched voice, as if the plush was speaker.

Tycon invited Old Fool over for a meal at the Kimura household, but he politely declined. Tycon reasoned that he probably had a poor reputation in his human form. Old Fool chose silence as his response and tactically withdrew.

Maximus, Dragan, and Pale requested drake meat for dinner, but Tycon flatly rejected them. Without dry aging, the meat would wreak havoc on the poor human stomachs of the Kimura family.

He strongly considered roasting a single portion for the patriarch, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Guild Invictus and company had to subsist on two cauldrons of bear-meat, stewed until tender with wild onions and other root vegetables.

The patriarch, Kimura Daigo, declared his unending loyalty to Guild Invictus during the meal, tears of sincerity in his eyes, meat juices streaming inelegantly down the corners of his mouth. As pathetic as he acted, he took the opportunity to apologize repetitively to his eldest son for doubting his judgment.

What a strange family.

Kagehisa Yumiko and Kimura Tamaki also made sure there were freshly-caught fish, (Tycon requested river eel,) steamed buns, and other dishes. Korr was especially enamored with Yumiko's baked desserts.

After the standard-fare dinner, Tycon escorted Korr to one of the gardens on the Kimura estate, a near-full moon and Korr's paper lantern providing them company.

Tycon was ready. He had a potion on his belt, his crossbow was loaded with a poisoned bolt, and he kept his sword out of its catch so he could draw it more easily.

If Korr decided to refuse to return to Nice, he gave himself 2:3 odds that he could fight her to a standstill. Or 1:5 odds if she used the Blackblade of Shahram. Or 1:10 odds if she had the 4-armed salamander woman assist her.

"Leader," Korr turned, swishing about her orange kimono and sweeping her long, fluffy orange hair.

Tycon concentrated on calming his heart rate as he drew his blade. Its metal song rang crisp and clear, "What is it?"

"Thank you for today."

"Uh?" Tycon averted his gaze, rapidly assessing the situation. Was this some sort of trick?

"I had a good time," she smiled, without an onze of duplicity.

"Oh." Tycon put his sword away, coughing... "I don't suppose I could ask you to elaborate?"

"It was so fun doing the obstacle course... And the way you played with the children was so sweet."

Tycon turned his back to Korr, so she wouldn't see his face. Tycon barely completed the course once. The speed and agility of the children embarrassed him. The dull ache in the back of his brain from overexerting his concentration still hadn't completely left him.

Korr continued, "Then how strong you were in the fight against the... the lizard. It felt so good to be part of a team again."

Tycon covered his mouth with his palm. The lizard took the most damage from Korr, herself. All he'd done was stab the creature in the eyes-- disabling only one of its many accurate senses.

"And the hot springs were really nice. It was like I was in heaven."

Dragan had tried to convince Pale to sneak over to the springs Taree and Korr were using to bathe. Wroe had tried to convince Tycon not to use the Iron Dragon Rend skill on Dragan's face. Dragan nakedly ran away to escape Tycon's wrath, the peeping plan handily thwarted.

"And then you got me this."

Ah, the sword. Tycon couldn't get a drop of Flood Dragon essence. Or a brutal warhammer. Or vicious paired axes. But at least the woman got a sword that suited her aesthetics and wouldn't break so easily.

Tycon turned back to Korr, "We'll, I'm happy to be of ser--."

Korr was holding out the white serpent plush.

"Vvvvwehh?" Tycon's jaw hung agape.

Korr embraced the fat plush, cradling it with a reddening face.

Tycon began to examine his surroundings. Was this a distraction for a sneak attack? The System displayed the woman as Trusted, but could the System be wrong?

Tycon felt softness against his cheek, and he turned to see Korr's blushing face, ilms away from his. He observed her mostly symmetrical, youthful facial features and took in the natural scent of her hair. He found the battle-scars on her face more appealing than repulsive, physical signs that she had suffered and grown because of it. It was all very pleasant.

"Leader," she hugged the plush tighter and refused to meet Tycon's eyes, "I'll return to Nice in the morning. I'm sorry for abandoning my duty, guarding Sorina."

'Okay, good. You should feel sorry,' Tycon thought.

He opened his mouth to speak over the quickening palpitations of his heart, "Ah."

That was not what he meant to say. Peculiar.

Korr smiled softly, "Good night, Leader."

"Y-yeah."

Tycon watched as the woman departed with cute, hasty steps, hindered by the wrap of her robes.

When she was out of sight, Tycon nodded. The quest to convince Korr to return to Nice was complete with every objective met.

Tycon resolved to eat his remaining Gann belly rations as a celebratory snack.

...

The rest of the evening passed mostly uneventfully. Tycon had found Korr sleeping in his bed, so he had to relocate to one of the empty rooms.

In the morning, he gathered Guild Invictus for a brief.

Seldin Korr was to take Corporal Horse and Jeremy back to Nice. Invictus no longer needed a supply cart-- Tycon's spatial ring was far more efficient.

"(Corporal Horse, Private Jeremy, you have your orders.)" Tycon pat Horse's neck. The senior horse, Horse, had been a stalwart traveling companion.

Horse stood proud and tall, "(We will protect the female, Snake!)"

Jeremy neighed and stepped about anxiously, staring at his superior, "(Reporting! Reporting! Sirrrrrrr!! I have discovered a suspicious talking horse!!)"

Tarquin Wroe was to travel with the party to Merylsward. There, he'd temporarily separate from the company to travel to Port City Caractere. He would have 1 or 2 weeks of time to charter a ship willing to brave the treacherous journey westward. Wroe was explicitly ordered to avoid contracting the Windwright's guild, the largest merchant fleet among the 5 Nations. Discretion, in this case, was more important than cost.

...Though Tycon insisted that if Wroe went over budget, he'd be paying out of his own pocket.

Maximus of Ezyria and Kimura Taree joined Guild Invictus as combatants. Kimura Tamaki was signed as a scout and tracker. Their contracts were drafted that morning, the latter two's contracts being signed by their legal guardians, Kagehisa Yumiko and her less-useful mate.

Tamaki was being paid more. It was not a gender inequality issue. The highest paid member of Guild Invictus was likely Sorina Capulet; her base pay was largely augmented by bonuses based on her business dealings and acquisitions.

Tamaki was a useful Bronze-Rank Fisherman with moderate skill as a ranger. Taree was useless baggage that Kagehisa Yumiko insisted come along.

...Tycon privately reminded Tamaki not to reveal his higher pay to his sister. The boy amicably agreed.

And thus, the group of 8 traveled east towards the Kingdom's city of Merylsward.

Tycondrius of House Charm. Dragan Ashlord.

Tarquin Wroe. Pale, son of Quay.

Lone Shadowdark. Maximus of Ezyria.

Kimura Tamaki. And that dumb silver-haired whelp.

Tycon had gathered a force of elite adventurers and was finally confident in completing the mission he was assigned.