The duelist 7, p.10
The Duelist 7, page 10
Now that I was looking a little closer at the guy, I could see how this Gavlain had flecks of gray in his beard and at his temples, and it made me wonder just how far in the future Future Gav really was from.
“Hey, how long have we been friends?” I asked.
“Nice try,” he said after he caught his breath. “I have had you explain one too many pop-culture time-travel stories and endured many hypothetical lectures on timelines to make the mistake of revealing too much about your future.”
“Fair enough,” I conceded. “That sounds like me enough for me not to be mad.”
“Your logic is pretty airtight,” he said.
“I’d like to think so.” I nodded, and after a beat, we both cracked up. “It’s good to see you in here again under much better circumstances, no matter where in time you’re from.”
“Is this only the second time you’ve seen me here?” he asked with a tilt of his horned head.
“Yeah, the first was…” I trailed off as I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Oh,” he said, and then the implication of my words seemed to make sense. “Oh, right. Yes, I was a very troubled young man at the time when we first met.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything about that?” I asked.
“If this is only the second time you are seeing me here, then the Gavlain you know doesn’t remember the angry young man he used to be,” Future Gav explained. “But do not take it personally. He will figure it out in time. In the meantime, you get to be the one who knows something he doesn’t for a change.”
“You’re absolutely right!” I said with a somewhat evil laugh. “See how he likes it.”
“I am glad to have run into you again, my friend,” the older ram-lord said as he placed one of his large baseball mitts of a hand on my shoulder. “You really did save me from making a terrible mistake, and every day I am grateful for it.”
“Eh, I was just making sure you were around long enough to introduce me to your sister,” I joked and then laughed when he ruffled my hair.
“You really haven’t changed, my friend.” Future Gav smiled. “Oh, before I go, I can give you some good advice. Go ahead and ask me a question, and I’ll try to answer you as best as I can.”
“Please do,” I said. “I’d really like to know every detail, but I’ll honestly settle for a trick to keep me from flying off into the Dark Realm every time I close my eyes. As cool as this place is, I don’t actually get any rest or relaxation whenever I’m here.”
“Fair enough,” he chuckled. “Whenever you feel that gut-drop falling sensation, picture yourself landing on something solid like a wooden floor. If you visualize this, you will stop your unconsciousness from falling all the way down.”
“That makes a weird sort of sense,” I remarked as I pictured what he was describing. His wording was quite imagistic, which made it easy to visualize. “I’ll try it next time.”
Future Gavlain’s solid form flickered a little, and he turned his face up to the white sky. “Looks like I might be waking up.”
“However long we’ve been friends, I just wanted to say I’m glad we still are back where-- or when-- you are from,” I said, and I thrust my arm out for him to shake.
“I shall see you again soon.” The ram-lord grinned again as he clasped my forearm. Almost immediately, his form began to turn transparent, and his grip became lighter and lighter until I could barely feel him there at all. “Oh, before I forget, there’s another little tidbit I can give you that you will hopefully thank me for later.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Dodgeball!” he nearly shouted just before he vanished with a shimmer like a mirage in the desert.
“D… Dodgeball?” I asked absolutely no one as I glanced around the now-empty clearing. “Thanks Vague McVague Meister. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
I got up from my place in front of the rock pool and went back through the In Between forest where my own clearing was. I’d learned from last time how impossible it was to return to my body from any clearing other than the one I started in, and then I sat down in order to meditate my way out…
When I opened my eyes again, I was still on the balcony’s ledge, and the sun was higher in the sky than before. I was also not alone, and I saw how I had a little entourage this morning in the form of Rylan and Shay, who were both perched on the ledge with me.
“You have visitors in the galley, husband,” Shay said as she continued to hold her meditative pose.
“Do I?” I questioned as I unfolded my legs and climbed off the ledge. “Don’t let me disturb you two.”
“Mmpf,” Rylan grunted, and I had a feeling he was dozing more than meditating so when I passed, I gave him a giant wet willy to wake him up. “Hey!”
“If you’re going to sleep, please don’t do it on this ledge,” I said. “Zoie will kill me if you fall into the gaping chasm below us.”
“I’m up, I swear,” he said as he tried to dry out his wet ear.
“Good,” I said and poked him in the ribs for good measure. “Don’t fall back asleep.”
I grinned when I saw Shay’s hand creep subtly toward the edge of Rylan’s tunic and hold on just in case.
When I got down to the galley, I was met with the sight of Sskern and Mec sitting around the table and enjoying a cold breakfast of that leftover spiced meat, some cheese, and some rustic bread.
Sskern in particular looked like he hadn’t seen the light for a long time, and he was practically inhaling every bite as if it was his last meal.
“Alex, you are looking fresh today,” Mec said with a broad grin as he sipped something hot from a clay mug.
Then the smell hit my nostrils, and drool instantly pooled in the back of my mouth.
“Is that kolee?” I asked the ram-lord. “Please tell me it’s kolee.”
“It is indeed kolee,” Mec chuckled as he took another sip. “Would you like some?”
“Goddess, yes,” I groaned and reached eagerly for the mug he’d already had prepared for me.
“I took the liberty of making sure we had enough before we left because I know how you are,” he said and watched me flick off the ceramic cover on the mug that was keeping my Lifeblood warm.
“You’re my favorite,” I sighed as I let the fragrant steam buffet against my face before I took a large gulp of the creamy, nutty, sweet drink.
It wasn’t a perfect replacement to my beloved bean juice, but it was close enough, and I’d even grown to like the flavor of the kolee more than the Americanos I used to mainline on a daily basis.
“I will have to say, this little enterprise of yours has really taken off back on Nata,” Mec said. “From what I’ve heard from your esteemed manager, Vel-Rala, you have made quite a pretty coin off this nifty little drink. If the Terrans liked hot drinks as much as Natavians, I would be tempted to steal your kolee flower recipe for a royal wedding gift.”
“A gift?” I asked as I looked between the ram-lord and the raptor-man.
“Yes, a gift fit for a couple of Terrans,” he said.
“I feel like there’s a custom I’m missing here,” I admitted as I took another sip of my drink. Leave it to Jenner to fuss over how good a dancer I was and completely leave out the fact I need to come up with a gift. “What should I do? What’s even appropriate in situations like this?”
“That’s a good question,” Mec said as he topped off his kolee. “And you’re lucky I’m here to help.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I pushed the big guy in the shoulder so he would get on with it. “Just tell me what your gift is and why you picked it, and I’m sure I can figure out the rest.”
“Maybe I should start first with what a wedding gift is supposed to accomplish,” he began, and I sighed at the prospect of sitting through another lecture no matter how fascinating.
But I really had no choice, so I grabbed myself a hunk of cheese and settled in.
“Take it away, Gav,” I said.
“As you have probably come to find, a lot of Duelist weddings tend to happen on the spot due to the transfer of property and assets at the end of every Duel,” he said. “So, when an Asher or otherwise decides to marry for the sake of marriage, it is seen as quite joyous indeed, and to start their new life, their friends and loved ones bequeath them things with a purpose.”
“Is there a list or an encyclopedia of these sorts of things?” I asked as I thought of wedding registries back on Earth.
“It varies from culture to culture,” he explained as he reached for more cold meat. “And it also varies from status to status. For example, most common folk who decide to marry are usually given books and life advice to aid them with something practical.”
“And what about those who are considered royalty?” I questioned. “I’m pretty sure a ‘how-to’ on how to raise a barn would be wasted in this scenario.”
At this sarcastic remark, the Regent began to snicker through his mouthful of food. “Raise. A barn.”
“You are quite right, Alex, my friend.” The ram-lord ignored Sskern’s adolescent snickering. “Basically, the rule is to give them something useful that will serve them for many seasons to come. Often this is something not tangible like knowledge or wisdom, but in my case, I am giving Clan Skerros clippings of all the spices Nata Isle has to offer. This way, they may grow their own variety and improve the quality of their cuisine.”
“You did what?” The raptor-man put down his food long enough to gape at Mec. “You’re giving us spices?”
“It was going to be a surprise, but I decided I didn’t really care about that,” the ram-lord said with a pleased smile on his bearded face. “What do you think? Is it honorable?”
Sskern glanced down at his plate and then back up at his friend with a poleaxed expression on his scaly face.
“M-More than,” he spluttered, and a look of such gratitude overwhelmed him that it almost looked like he could be brought to tears.
I didn’t really blame him because the food on this island really did suck. Bigtime.
“How am I even going to compete with that?” I blurted out when it dawned on me just how awesome the ram-lord’s gift was. “I’ve got nothing.”
“I’m sure you have something to offer,” Mec said. “After all, you are a Traveler from distant lands. Isn’t there something you learned in your culture that you could teach the Terrans before you go?”
“Like what?” I racked my brain to think of something useful to give these people who meant quite a lot to me. “I learned a little bit of Spanish in high school, but I’m not sure how good that will do you guys.”
I sat there for a few more moments trying to think of any other skills or nuggets of wisdom I could pass along that would be a worthy gift, but nothing came to mind.
What did you give somebody who was royalty anyway? A fleet of ships? A giant sculpture effigy?
No, practical was the key, so what were these Terrans lacking?
Their guard force had taken a beating and was quite depleted as of late…
Aside from me volunteering to be in their army, which wasn’t going to happen, there wasn’t much I could do on that end. I did have decent hand-to-hand combat skills, but that wasn’t uncommon in a world like this, and as far as strategy and battle tactics went, I didn’t have any training other than the maneuvers I perfected on the battleground of high school PE when we all played…
Oh, shit.
Dodgeball.
“Alex?” The ram-lord waved a beefy hand in front of my face as if I’d been catatonic or something instead of just thinking for a few seconds, and I felt the urge to swat him away like a bothersome fly.
The fact Future Mec was still leading me along with carefully planned words and actions should have been rather irksome, but as an idea started to take shape in my mind, I couldn’t really be angry at him. After all, the ram-lord probably learned about dodgeball from Future Me anyway so I really only had myself to blame.
Or… thank, if all that sci-fi garbage was anywhere close to being correct about time loops, anyway.
Time-travel was confusing.
Ugh.
“You’re a genius,” I said in response to Mec poking my cheek. “Or I'm a genius, however that works, the jury is still out.”
“What is he talking about, Gavlain?” Sskern asked with a bemused look on his face.
“It’s probably some weird Traveler glop, pay it no attention,” the ram-lord stage whispered, and I couldn’t help but snort. “Whatever the case, you’re in good hands my friend, because I recognize the particular gleam in our Alex’s eyes. That gleam tells me he’s figured out a perfect wedding gift for you and your uncle, am I right?”
“You hit the nail right on the head, my good sir,” I said in a breezy tone of voice as I drained the last of my drink in a persnickety sort of way. “But I’m not going to tell any of you until I can properly demonstrate it.”
“Well, that’s not fair,” the ram-lord said with a pout. “Can’t I have a tiny hint?”
“Nope,” I said as a slow grin spread across my face. “But if you stay long enough, you might be able to help me with the demonstration.”
Chapter 9
The ram-lord glanced between the raptor-man and me with a look of distress on his face. If I knew him the way I thought I did, I knew it was only a matter of time before…
“Sskern,” Mec sighed impatiently. “Don’t you know when it’s time for you to leave?”
“Is that what this is?” Sskern asked with an amused grin ticking up the corners of his mouth. “My cue to exit?”
“Blast it, you old snake, of course, it is,” he growled as he tried to get the other man on his feet and out the door as quickly as possible. “Don’t you have things you need to be doing? Places you need to be going? After all, it is your wedding day. I’m sure if anybody is in high demand, it is the Regent Prince.”
“Alright, fine,” the raptor-man said, but he lingered by the table still and picked out a few hunks of meat.
Mec eventually lost patience and began shoving him toward the galley exit.
“I can see when I’m not wanted,” Sskern laughed. “I’m going, I’m going.”
I ended up waiting in the galley by myself for a few seconds while the ram-lord saw to it himself that the Regent was completely gone from the premises. I was about to send out an All Points Bulletin for the man when he strode back through the door.
“Now that he’s been taken care of, I demand on the basis of our friendship that you tell me your secrets,” Mec said as he dusted off his palms like he’d just taken out the garbage.
“Pot. Kettle.” I stared at him with a deadpan expression and inwardly grinned when he gave me a sheepish smile. “Relax, I’m going to need all the help I can get when I reveal my gift, so I’m going to have to teach you first. You’ll know all about it before the party, trust me.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear,” he said as he looped his thick arm around my shoulders. “I hate anticipation like that. I was always terrible at waiting to open my birthday presents on my actual birthday.”
“So, we’re still friends, then?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said and then scrubbed one of his big trashcan lid hands through my hair in an obnoxious ruffle. “For now.”
“Gee, thanks,” I snarked at first, but then a wicked little idea occurred to me, and as casually as I could, I made one last remark. “If only you knew where I got the idea in the first place for the gift. That would truly make your head spin.”
The ram-lord chuckled along with me for a moment before the implication of my words actually sunk in, and he stopped as he glared down at me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked. “Who did you get the idea from?”
“Now, that is something I’m not allowed to reveal to you,” I said as I moved out from underneath the big man’s arm. “Okay, grab your dishes and help me put them in the sink so we can help Vel out a little.”
“I hope you know you have destroyed possibly countless nights of sleep for me with your diabolical plan to drive me insane, Alex Brightwood.” The Asher Lord of Nata Isle loomed over me with a mock-menacing sort of air that was ruined by the stack of dishes in his arms, and I realized he looked like a busboy.
The only thing missing was the apron.
“I’d say it’s the least of what you deserve for keeping me in the dark all the time,” I jabbed and then hip-checked him so he would know I was joking.
“Payback, is that what it is?” he said and checked me back.
“For keeping me in the dark all the time?” I smirked. “Maybe a little.”
“Alex!” a too tiny and too cute voice piped up from outside the galley. “Where is Alex?”
“Are Meera and Dawn here, too?” I asked as I rushed out of the galley.
“Hello, Ambassador,” Lord Mec’s beautiful deer-wife greeted me with a regal nod of her antlered head. “Have you been well?”
“Aleeeeex!” The little freckled deer-girl at Dawn’s feet reached up at me with her two little grabby hands, and I had no choice but to swing her up in my arms and plant her on my hip.
“I’ve been as well as can be expected,” I replied to Dawn as I booped the little girl on her elfin nose just so I could hear her giggle. “How about you guys?”
“The journey treated us well,” she said as she glanced around the interior of the ship. “You have quite a mechanical marvel on your hands, Alex.”
“So it seems,” I said and patted Meera on the back when she gave me a cuddle. “And how have you been, little Missy? Have you been staying out of trouble?”
The toddler leaned back so she could look at me in the face. “No. I give Mama headaches!”
I couldn’t help but bark out a laugh at the way she said this with so much pride, and then I shot an apologetic look toward the deer-woman.
“Sorry,” I said as I set the little girl back down on her feet.
“Don’t be,” Dawn said as she observed her daughter with a weary but fond look. “I would have her no other way.”
“Alex!” Meera tugged on my hand and then plucked at the silver blouse she was wearing. “Look at the pretty dress I’m wearing. Isn’t it pretty?”
