[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[WyvernSlayer]

Some time later…

Satsume cracked a weary smile as he entered the village. Cecily had fallen asleep during the later part of the trek, and her limp body weight was beginning to take its toll on his back. He picked out his family’s cottage and walked with renewed purpose, taking larger strides despite the aching in his calves. Pretty soon he would be rid of her weight on his shoulders (literally) and could rest.

Satsume paused in front of his house and was immediately caught by the familiar scent of soot and singed leather. A brief wave of nostalgia coursed through his mind, recalling the similar telltale smell of the smiths’ fires in the Ostian courtyard. He sighed and lifted one of his legs and kicked at the door gently with the toe of his boot. Here’s hoping my sister answers the door and not-

The door creaked open and the doorway was immediately occupied by a stocky, older man in his late fifties. His crimson hair was beginning to recede at the top, but his great red beard drew attention away from that pretty well. He was clad in an apron and sturdy work clothes, slightly dusty, with various small metalworking tools peeking out of the apron’s front pocket.

“Oh!” he exclaimed upon seeing Satsume.

“Hey, Dad.” Satsume said as respectfully as he could. He peered over his shoulder at Cecily, still slumped over his shoulders. She stirred a bit and winced. “Listen, uh… we need to get the physician for this woman.”

Satsume’s father gave him a hard look and crossed his arms. “Is she pregnant?”

“Dad!”

“Fine, fine. Bring her inside, I’ll send Stella to get the doctor.” Satsume’s father stepped aside, trying to hide a mischievous grin. Satsume quickly stepped through the living room and moved past the kitchen. Hopefully they haven’t rented out my room.

No, it was still there, unoccupied, with everything as it had been when he left. Satsume carefully slipped Cecily down from off his shoulders and onto the bed, then wiped the sweat from his brow. “Whew!” He looked down at the young noble – she didn’t seem to be doing too well. Any reprieve that his antitoxin had provided was no doubt through her system, and her cheeks were thoroughly flushed. Satsume grabbed a cloth from the bedside table and rushed outside to the rain barrel.

Hope Stella gets back soon, he thought. Not much more I can do at this point. He dunked the cloth in the water and wrung it out some. As he went to move back into his room, he passed by his father again. He stopped him.

“Mind explaining what this is about?”

“I found her over at the refugee camp,” Satsume replied. “Someone poisoned her, I think. She didn’t trust the people there, so I brought her here.” He glanced into his room from where he stood. “Says she doesn’t trust me either, but I don’t know that I buy that.”

“I wouldn’t,” his father replied.

Satsume returned to his room and set the damp cloth on Cecily’s forehead. He could hear his father behind him moving some things around in the living room, and he soon appeared with a stool. “Here,” he said. “Stay with her until your sister returns. I have some things to take care of in the shop.”

“Sure.” Satsume set the stool down beside his bed and unstrapped his breastplate. He set it down quietly on the floor and seated himself next to Cecily.

“Satsume?”

“Yeah?”

“…It’s good to have you home again.”