King's heavy burdens

Roland gazed across the expansive encampment. It looked so incredibly large until he realized that this was the entire collection of known humankind not enslaved to Beast.

To see them all in one place was disheartening.

"We should separate them. There are too many to feed and water here," Lysander, the former Provider, said from Roland's side.

His point was logical. The resources here in the mountains were not endless. The grazing for the animals was limited, and when the heat of summer faded, the glacier melt streams they drank from would freeze.

"Separation makes us vulnerable. It makes people feel alone," Roland sighed, turning to Gwen on his other side. "It makes it easier to attack us."

Strange creatures in the night had been sneaking meals from the humans' herds and flocks. The carcasses left behind weren't the work of wolves or other known predators.

Gwen inhaled. "The battle is coming. The last will arrive today."

"The last?" Roland squinted at her.

"They are coming." She nodded, "Those who survived the plague. And more."

The king stared at the woman a little impatiently. He hated cryptic statements, but it seemed to be all she gave. "More?"

"She probably means the rest of the halflings. I sense 'em, too," Jimmy said from behind him.

"And where have you been all this time?" The king spun on his heel and addressed the small man. "I left messages at your rock before the evacuation, and heard not a single word. Finn and Mayra have been worried."

After the halflings had made it clear that Jimmy was a novelty to them, the quarter halfling had gotten offended and not been seen since. Roland had thought he was off doing whatever it was he normally did and not worried a whit, but the women were strangely fond of the small man.

"Naw, they should know me better than to worry. I come when I want, and go when I want. Course, now there's plenty 'o places to go, what with the other worlds shrinking and this one growing. You should see it!" He shook his head.

"See what, exactly?" Roland sighed.

"You think I've been sittin' on my hands this whole time, doin' nothing for weeks? No! I've been explorin'. Other worlds smashing into this one makes for interestin' views."

The king avoided tapping his foot. No one could make him irritated more quickly than the quarter-halfling. "Such as?"

"Well, there's that white mist roaming around, there's some manner of floating islands over the plains I can't get to, a tall pine forest growing where the desert should be, and part of the ocean looks like glass now, but things still live under the surface. Strange things." He punctuated his statement with a nod. "I even found you a weird seed pod to plant."

He produced a bulb the size of a large apple and held it out in his hand.

"Um, thank you?" The king said uncertainly. "Would it be rude to ask what it is?"

Jimmy's expression soured. "You told me you were looking for a weird flower, and I imagine this seed will make a plenty weird one. It has markings from all the worlds I recognize, and several I don't. I'm not sure what will happen if ya plant it, but why not try?"

"Because it could be something terrible and poisonous," Lysander said logically. "If you don't know what something is, perhaps you should attempt to research it before using it."

"Ha! I like this one. He's funny," Jimmy said to Roland. "Ask your fire monster if you don't think I'm credible enough."

The quarter-halfling glared at Gwen, who kept a neutral expression apart from a slight smile at the corners of her mouth.

"It is nice to see you again, Jimmy." She nodded politely.

"I can't exactly say the same, but at least you aren't a wall of fire orderin' me around this time." Jimmy spat.

"That was for an important purpose," Gwen intoned. "I have no instructions for you at this time."

"Instructions, my foot! Orders, and sharp ones too, as I recall." Jimmy glared. "Take your seed and do whatever you want with it."

Shoving the pod into Roland's hand, the halfling darted off.

"He was a strange fellow," Lysander looked in the direction of the departed man. "But oddly charming."

Roland sighed, "Gwen, is there any way I can persuade you to just tell me what to do? What the best path is? Has the Sorcerer told you anything at all in that regard?"

"I will help you as best I can," Gwen replied. Another non-answer.

"Should we wait here? Move further away from Klain? Send the army out?" Roland fished about for answers, but the Fae's face remained unreadable. Maybe he should go take a nap and see if the Sorcerer would talk to him in a dream again.

That hadn't happened in some time.

"I need guidance," He whispered. As if in response, a mountain breeze picked up and caressed his face.

He turned to see a new set of wagons entering the large valley where all free humans currently dwelled.

"Captain Napier," Roland smiled when he saw the man on horseback leading the group. Running down the mountainside, he nearly stumbled in his eagerness to meet the man, to find out news… to learn how many had survived, and who they had lost.

Breathless and panting, he skidded to an undignified stop in front of the long line of wagons, herds, and horses.

"Your Majesty," the captain saluted. "These are all the remaining survivors of the plague. Reporting as ordered."

A scout had been positioned to watch the pass, and lead them to the undisclosed location should they prove to not be under the thrall of Beast. The man saluted and, having done his duty, bowed and left the king and the captain to speak.

"Welcome." Roland's smile faltered as his eyes roamed the line of wagons and people, mentally tallying them. "How many…?"

"More than half the people of the town died. Entire outlying villages were wiped out. I do not know for certain if there is anyone else left alive out there, but we left no one behind that we know of." Napier glanced backward. "There is much to report."

The kind nodded tiredly and gestured for the man to follow him. "I'm sorry to press, but I must ask… I had some family with you…"

"Your sister Victoria was able to avoid falling to the sickness, and handled herself bravely. Queen Serafina's brother grew deathly ill, but survived. He is recovering. Your cousin, Caspian, and his wife, have erm…" He looked back over his shoulder and pointed to a large wagon that had stopped. Children poured out of it.

"Adopted quite a few, haven't they?" His eyebrows shot up. He'd gotten word that Caspian and Naomi had stayed behind to help, but he had no idea that they would arrive with–he mentally tallied–over twenty children?

"I see," Roland nodded. "I always thought Naomi would be a good mother. It is bittersweet that she has such an opportunity now."

"The children love her," Napier smiled. "She is a balm to those without relatives to take them in."

"I'm glad of it." The king answered as Caspian approached. The cousins embraced, and Roland felt buoyed by the other man's return.

"We made it," The Cetoan announced tiredly. "But only just. There is a matter we must urgently discuss."

"I'm sure there are many," Roland responded with an ironic twist to his mouth, "but which takes precedence in your view?" 

"Townspeople. Two of them, claiming to be a married couple from an outlying village… I did not want to take action without your input, so I found an excuse to leave them a distance behind with some sheep and a collection of soldiers. I did not feel justified in taking stronger action, but felt it necessary to conceal our ultimate location from them." Caspian's face held concern.

"Are they still ill with the plague? What made it seem dangerous to bring them here?" Roland lowered his voice. He didn't want anyone to overhear and spread panic.

The rumors of how bad the plague were underestimated, if anything. He would rather keep it that way.

"There was some discrepancy about their story, and they both tried to keep away from others and acted suspiciously. Victoria found them to be standoffish, and pointed out how the couple seemed to particularly be avoiding myself and Naomi." Caspian continued.

"To what end?" Roland frowned. This wasn't making a lot of sense.

"It puzzled me as well, but I caught a glimpse of the man's face, and Naomi the woman's. We have convinced ourselves that even though ten years have passed, the couple is without a doubt, Edmar and Brenna."

There was a beat of silence before the king said darkly, "You're sure?"

The Cetoan man solemnly nodded. "We don't know how or why they have returned, but both have previously been condemned to death for treachery."