The Journey Continues...

I never found out what happened to the man my wind spell hit. I managed to get a glance of the road behind us before we set off again, and saw a massive tear in the earth. I guess he had, literally, been blown away.

Upon reflection, I decided it had been simply a matter of too much mana. I was beginning to realise I had severely underestimated how powerful my spells could be. Perhaps if I adjusted the parameters… No, it would be better to wait and try them out some more first, so I could measure the strengths more precisely. 

The rest of our journey through South Reinhart went without incident. The forest slowly cleared, and we entered a more cultivated area, not so different to what Silfen looked like, although perhaps a little rougher.

We finally arrived at a walled town. For that we had to pay a toll to the guards, I think it was a bribe really, before we could enter. Once we did, the wagon made slow progress along streets that were far busier than those around the academy. I spent a good hour gazing at the shops and the people walking, riding, trading as we went by.

As the sun was starting to fall in the sky, we pulled into another inn. This was one a red-brick affair, built in an L shape, with a large stable off to one side.

"At last," Lissa sighed, as we pulled up. "I need a long bath."

"Me too," Rath agreed, jumping down and handing the reigns to a young lass, dressed in a rather ragged tunic, who had come to greet us.

I was lifted down by Rath, and then, slightly to my surprise, Lissa spent a minute casting a very obvious, loud spell on the wagon. Frowning, I wondered what she was doing for a moment, and then I saw the girl holding the reins, looking on with an expression of terror on her face. Realisation dawned. This was theft prevention!

"There," Lissa said, in a clear voice to Rath. "That curse will make anyone rummaging through our things very sorry. Oh, I'm sorry youngster, I didn't see you there. You may take the wagon to the stables."

"Y… y… yes Blessed," the poor girl replied, visibly quaking. 

Lissa gave me a quick wink, and we walked towards the inn.

"What did mother really cast?" I whispered to Rath.

"I think it was a spell to get rid of lice," she muttered back, looking down at me. "Who's a clever lad, figuring that out?"

"Mother would never hurt anyone that wasn't putting us in danger."

Rath scratched her chin, and looked up at the sky. "Maybe," she said, vaguely.

Before I could ask more, we were at the check-in desk, where an older chap in blue robes dealt with us politely and efficiently, and we were soon standing in a room that was smaller than the last one, although possibly with better furnishings.

"There's a bath house next door if I remember," Rath said, putting me on the bed. "Shall we go there before eating?"

"Most assuredly," Lissa replied, scratching herself. "Maybe I should have cast that spell on myself."

So I was treated to the bathhouse, where I was glad my young body was still, mostly, unaffected by the sight of female flesh, because my mothers took me with them, into the ladies area. I was young enough, apparently, for this to be allowed.

A changing room first, where I was efficiently stripped off, and where my mothers, in all their glory, also disrobed, swapping clothes for a towel, and then into the bathing area, which held two large, steaming pools, and one cold one.

I had to work hard not to laugh out loud with glee as we made our way through the naked females walking, relaxing, and chatting in and around these pools. 

From a hulking, dark skinned, muscular woman of some species I'd not encountered here before, to a pale slip of a thing that would delight any lolicon's heart, there was a full range on display, and it was all I could do not to lose control of my bladder. I did let out an evil giggle, which I had to rapidly turn into a gurgle.

"We're going to have to keep an eye on Theo around the girls when he gets a bit older," Rath said.

Maybe I hadn't been subtle enough.

Lissa, though, just smiled at me and rubbed my hair. "You like the pretty girls sweetie?"

I couldn't trust myself to speak, so simply nodded.

"So do I," Lissa replied, waggling her eyebrows.

"Hey, I'm right here!" Rath scolded, but she was laughing.

The next half hour was either heaven or hell for me, perhaps both. I was fawned over by multiple hot babes, and I didn't know where to look next. Even at my age, it was hard to control my lower area as I was splashed, and generally played with by several really sexy females, all displaying their wonder in full and unabashed glory.

Finally, with my body tired, but certainly clean, I was pulled out by Rath, and taken back to the changing rooms, which, frankly, was almost a relief. 

My stupid kid body fell asleep as I was being carried back to the hotel, but the nap didn't last too long, as Lissa gently woke me up before we went down to eat. 

"Come on sweetie, unless you want to stay in the room? We can bring you some food back."

Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I shook my head. "I would like to go with you please."

And so I attended another dinner, much like the last one, although the dining room was a little less crowded. I had a small cup of ale this time, rather than the wine, but the end result was the same. My body fell asleep after having a plate of noodles, and didn't wake up until Rath was lifting me back up into the wagon the next morning.

Lissa made me a cup of broth with a steamed bun to break my fast, and I nibbled on the bread and sipped from my cup as the wagon made its way through and, eventually, out, of the gate on the opposite side of the city we had entered. 

From there we had a fairly smooth ride on a well maintained road for several more days. We didn't stay in another inn, but pulled the wagon off the road, once into a layby that was designed for overnight stays, and once in a remote field. It was all very uneventful.

Finally, we arrived at the eastern border, which was much busier than the western one. There was a queue of wagons, mostly carrying goods between the two countries, and so it was late afternoon when we finally passed into El. The check had been a formality. Both Rath and Lissa were recognised, and I wondered how famous my mothers really were.

From what I had gathered, El was a reasonably prosperous kingdom, with its main exports grain, meat and other food goods. It was ruled by a young, but well educated and intelligent king. Personally, at least in my old life, I was not a fan of the monarchy system, but here, well, I guess it was back to medieval times. 

So we travelled a nice country, past many fields and farms, and through a number of small hamlets and villages. The whole place seemed very rural, but also clean and organised. I was impressed.

"How far to the farm mother?" I asked Lissa, as we along.

"We should get there in another day, probably plodded about this time," she replied. "Here, do you want a biscuit?" 

"Thank you," I replied, taking the proffered snack, and nibbling on it. Lissa made them herself, I knew. They tasted a little like ginger. 

"Such a well mannered boy." She grinned.

"You had better rest whilst you can little one," Rath called back over her shoulder. "I shall be teaching you some sword play when we get home."

I chewed my snack as I thought through the implications of this. Did that mean I would have no free time? I had a lot of spells I desperately wanted to try.

Lissa seemed to know what I was thinking. "Don't worry," she said, ruffling my hair. "You'll have plenty of time to play. Not that you really play much." She frowned. "Are you happy Theo?"

I beamed at her. "I am very happy, thank you."

"Oh, well, good." Lissa looked a little bewildered for a second, but then smiled. "I'm glad. You know if you need to talk about anything, or you have any problems, you can always come to us, don't you? We are always here for you."

"I know. Don't worry."

That look again, but then she pulled me close and hugged me. Lissa wasn't nearly as well endowed as Rath, but I still nearly suffocated in her bosom.