Chương 170: Princess Caspian

"Calm down! We don't wish you any harm," Liora said, using Serena's calm and soothing voice. Surely, the antkin would interpret her soft voice as a sign— WHOOSH! An arrow flew right past Liora, as the antkin shrieked and clicked its mandibles. It sounded almost as if it was speaking using the clicks, but if that were the case, there was no way they could ever understand them. That was a problem.

"Stop aiming arrows at me!" Liora yelled and swooped down at the antkin. She dropped Caspian on the rock next to it and then snatched the bow out of its arms. The ant trembled and curled up on the ground, clearly prepared for its death.

"I am NOT going to hurt you!" Liora repeated with no small amount of annoyance. The ant just continued trembling and mutter-clicking something quietly.

"Liora, you have no tact. Did you really think that this creature would perceive you as anything other than a monster? You're a human-sized bird with talons that can shred metal," Renir pointed out.

"It doesn't know that I can shred metal," Liora protested.

"Besides, I am the most beautiful bird out of here. It should be an honor to have witnessed my beautiful plumage." Cee and Smokey soon landed on the rock right next to Liora, although Smokey's landing was far from graceful. He lowered himself too quickly and hit the edge of the rock, which forced him to scramble his way up using his claws. Seeing this large lout approach, the antkin wailed loudly, utterly terrified.

It threw its two arms in the air and prostrated itself before Liora and Smokey, likely begging for mercy. Or a quick death, perhaps.

"Calm down, please. They might look monstrous, but they are harmless. Mostly," Caspian said, approaching the antkin. He hovered his arms over the antkin's four bruised legs and healed them. The antkin stopped wailing and looked at Caspian in surprise. Caspian then began speaking to the antkin, using a series of clicks and odd noises. It sounded somewhat awkward, and it was clear that he wasn't proficient in the language. However, the antkin relaxed a little and responded with a series of hurried clicks.

They continued speaking for a while, with Caspian occasionally pointing at each of them, likely explaining who they were. After ten minutes of animated conversation, the antkin turned to Liora and Cee and extended his thin limbs towards them.

"This is how antkin greet others. You're supposed to extend your limbs, too, in return. If you don't, they'll think you're rude," Caspian explained. Liora extended her wings, but since they were so long, they basically engulfed the antkin from both sides, making it tremble. She hurriedly withdrew them. Cee did the same thing, and it looked like Smokey wanted to do it too, but Cee stopped him before he could. The antkin looked absolutely terrified again. Caspian sighed and spoke with the antkin again.

"What are you talking about now?" Liora asked.

"Just explaining our situation and trying to understand what happened. Her name is Na'ikiri. She is a travelling merchant on their way to the merfolk city."

"She is the merchant? But where's the wagon and all the merchant things?" Cee asked. Caspian's expression darkened.

"Yeah… That's the problem. The whole caravan was destroyed. Ambushed by the desert shark matriarch. She was the only one to survive." Liora and Cee shared an uneasy look. That was horrible. Liora shuddered to think what would have happened to this poor antkin had they not come across her. With the injuries she had on her legs, it was unlikely that she could have made her way back alone. Even if there weren't monsters along the way.

"Tell her that the desert shark matriarch has been killed," Renir prompted Caspian to translate. He did so, and the ant broke out into a flurry of odd noises, bows, and clicks. Liora suspected that it was the ant equivalent of crying while thanking them for avenging her brethren.

"Na'ikiri thanks us for taking revenge for her family. She says she will do anything to repay the favor," Caspian said.

"Tell her that we don't need anything. We wish to take her back to her people," Liora announced, holding her head high. Caspian arched his eyebrow at Liora, but then proceeded to tell her what Liora had said. Na'ikiri looked confusedly at Liora while speaking with Caspian.

"She says that she doesn't understand why you would do something like that," Caspian explained.

"Tell her that our main goal was always to reach the other exit of the dungeon, and that delivering her home wouldn't be a detour for us. She will be protected from monsters along the way, so long as she can show us a safe path through," Renir said. Caspian once again relayed the translation. Na'ikiri looked at Liora and Cee in what seemed like amazement. It was hard to tell. Liora couldn't read ant expressions very well. Their facial features were mostly static.

"Okay, so she says that she would gladly lead us to the exit of the dungeon, but she cannot promise that her people would accept us, since you know, you all look like monsters," Caspian said.

"Hey, we got you as a translator. I'm sure it'll work out just fine," Cee pointed out. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"I'm not very proficient with this language… I only know it because I was forced to learn," Caspian said with a deep sigh.

"She seems to understand you well enough. We're going to rest here for a moment, then we'll keep going. Na'ikiri will lead us," Liora announced. Caspian once again relayed the information to the antkin, who bowed once more towards Liora and Cee. It appeared that things would work out. Renir had said that antkin were a very aggressive race that didn't take kindly to strangers. But they brought back their own kind and protected her along the way; perhaps they would feel indebted to them.

Perhaps, they would feel indebted enough to show a certain book on ritual to them.

"Chak-chak-chak! Chak-chak-chak!" Liora laughed, all too pleased with the turn of events. Not the fact that Na'ikiri's companions had died. It would have been better if they hadn't been hurt. But it wasn't like they could bring them back from the dead.

"What's up with her?" Caspian asked with a clear look of concern.

"Don't mind her. She thinks she's being clever," Renir huffed.

"Liora, dear, just because you bring one ant back, it doesn't mean the colony will look favorably upon you."

"Hey, it's got to count for something! They won't attack us on sight, as you said before," Liora huffed.

"Liora is right. Surely bringing their merchant back would make them think twice before attacking us," Cee pointed out. Renir tapped his tiny foot against the rock, clearly not too pleased.

"I don't like it. I don't want to go to the antkin."

"But you already agreed before. Why the sudden change of heart?" Liora asked.

"I never fully agreed to this. Antkin are a murderous race," Renir announced grumpily.

"You do realize one of them is sitting right here," Caspian pointed out.

"And they are very much not murderous. Not towards merfolk at least. They simply hate humans even more than we do."

"Yes, and that's the problem!" Renir grumbled.

"How is that a problem?" Caspian cocked his head. Liora hurriedly snatched Renir and shook him.

"Stop being so dramatic. We're NOT human. Why should WE care how the antkin treat humans?" It appeared he had forgotten that Caspian didn't know he was travelling with three ex-humans. Renir was utterly lost in his own lies. This was likely why nobody liked him much as a human. He kept weaving lies upon lies upon lies, until he could no longer keep track of them.

"Oh! Well… If they treat humans that way, who is to say they won't treat us the same way?" Renir hurried to correct himself.

"It'll be alright. Merfolk and antkin have been engaged in trade for years. They shall not harm me and by extension you," Caspian soothed.

"But you're exiled," Cee pointed out. The merman sputtered.

"Yes, but they don't know that."

"You all are just a bunch of liars!" Liora announced.

"We don't want to hear it from you!" Everyone snapped at Liora, which made Na'ikiri look at them curiously. The group rested for a short bit, mostly waiting for Na'ikiri to eat and recover from the horrible incident. After that, they continued on their way. On foot this time, since Smokey still needed some time to rest, and Caspian needed to train his Landwalker skill. To say that the walk was painful would be a severe understatement. It was absolutely dreadful.

In fact, Liora thought it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they weren't moving forward at all. The problem was the merman. His pace was most atrocious. It was like following behind a disabled grandma who used a walker to get around. Except, you could at least sympathize with the grandma, but Liora certainly couldn't feel a shred of sympathy for the fishman.

"That's it! I'm going to carry you!" Liora announced and swooped down to carry him.

"No! Begone, foul death bird! I shall not endure your talons any longer," Caspian screeched, tossing sand up at Liora. Cee apparently found the sight amusing, chuckling in her spidery way, while Liora squawked indignantly at the merman.

"Then walk faster, fishface. We are literally not getting anywhere! Ask the ant how far we are from the nearest oasis." Caspian did ask Na'ikiri, who answered with a series of clicks and gestures in a direction up ahead. Liora didn't know the language, but she had a strong suspicion that she was saying that they were still far away. The pale look the merman had when he turned to Liora all but confirmed it.

"She says it's a two-day walk from here, but with our pace, it might be three." Liora glared at Caspian.

"And how much longer can you retain those legs?"

"An hour or two at most…" he mumbled.

"That's it! You're getting carried!" Liora screeched, ready to grab the merman, when Cee inserted herself between them.

"How about Smokey carrying him while we walk? I think he needs a few more hours of rest before he can fly, but walking seems rather easy for him now that he's evolved." Liora looked at the wyvern. He certainly looked more comfortable walking in the sand than before. Instead of clumsily falling over all the time, he split the sand he sank as if he were walking in shallow water. It was likely that his increased strength and bulk made it easier to traverse the sand.

Not to mention the fact that he seemed to enjoy the heat.

"I have to sit on that thing? Won't it hurt my bottom? His scales look rough," Caspian complained.

"You're like a spoiled princess! Cee, we are putting the fish onto your wyvern," Liora announced and mercilessly grabbed the merman. He flailed helplessly, while Na'ikiri began to panic, noticing him being dragged away against his will. Cee, meanwhile, wove a quick makeshift saddle and settled it on Smokey's back. Well, it was more like a blanket than a saddle, but it should protect Caspian's bottom, at least a little.

Liora unceremoniously dropped him onto Smokey's back, who lifted his head to inspect the new passenger.

"Nice dragon…" Caspian muttered nervously.

"He's a wyvern, not a dragon," Cee huffed.

"Much more elegant without extra limbs." Seeing the merman seated on the wyvern's back, Na'ikiri relaxed and continued guiding them at a much better pace. The ant was actually rather fast. She walked using four legs, and it appeared sand was no obstacle for her. Cee could walk quickly, too, using her eight legs, and Smokey followed after her rather quickly. Liora flew above, casting a shadow on Princess Caspian, who was complaining that it was too hot.

If he weren't a healer, Liora would have long since ditched him.

"Why don't you scout ahead a little? See how far we really are from the oasis," Renir suggested.

"I'm down for that," Liora nodded, and called to the others below.

"I'll go scout ahead a little."

"Okay," Cee confirmed.

"Wait, wait, wait! Don't leave me to fry in the sun!" Caspian whined as the shadow Liora had been providing him with disappeared.

"Get over it, Princess!" Liora said and flew ahead, letting her powerful wings carry her with amazing speed.

"I swear you're faster each time you take flight. I can barely see everybody, and we've barely flown for a minute," Renir said.

"That's because your eyesight is hot garbage," Liora said.

"Touche!" They flew in comfortable silence for a while until she finally noticed something green in the distance. The clear signs of an oasis.

"It's not quite as far as I thought," Renir declared. But it wasn't the distance that was the issue. Liora saw something that Renir couldn't yet see with his poor vision. The oasis was teeming with monsters.